Design & Technology

About Design and Technology

The core experience in Design and Technology is essentially about providing opportunities for students to develop their capability, through combining their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to create quality products. As a school we place an emphasis on “quality” products as there is great benefit in students experiencing success and seeing and handling products that are well made. In addition the school sees the preparation of young people for citizenship in a technological society as a central activity within the subject.

The core activity of Design and Technology involves investigative, disassembly and evaluative activities related to products and their applications; focused practical tasks to develop skills and the fields of knowledge; materials and components; control and systems, which include mechanical, electrical and electronic and pneumatic, structures; quality and health and safety. The knowledge used in Design and Technology is critical to the sound development of products. This knowledge and understanding will be taught specifically within D&T, but will also be drawn from other curriculum areas like science, mathematics, art and design, business education (extra – curricular clubs) ICT & Computing.  D&T also contributes to these subjects and some other curriculum areas.

Design and Technology provides excellent opportunities for students to apply judgements of an aesthetic, economic, moral, social, and technical nature in their designing and to existing products and their applications.

Students will use a range of communication skills, including verbal, graphical and modelling skills, to help their thinking and ability to take action in the process of designing. D&T provides excellent opportunities for individual work and teamwork.

The subject has a crucial role in developing industrial partnerships where work in school can have a realistic focus by active involvement of industry in project work or by illustrating industrial processes or techniques.

Design and Technology involves a distinctive creative process that combines the intellectual with practical skills through purposeful practical activities. The creative process in which students are engaged is iterative, with the crucial parts being the user or customer of the product and the quality of the product itself.

The nature of Design and Technology at All Hallows is such that it should provide opportunities for students to engage in activities that are challenging, relevant and motivating. Giving students enjoyment, satisfaction and a sense of purpose, and enabling them to feel they can play a constructive role in a technological society. All Design and Technological activities are a learning experience whereby the students’ repertoire of knowledge, skills and understanding is extended and applied in increasingly more diverse and sophisticated ways.

Staffing

Within Design and Technology we have specialist teachers to deliver the full curriculum to all students at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. These are:

• Mr Jousiffe (Head of Technology)
• Mrs Pascucci – (Coordinator of D&T)
• Mrs Caw – Teacher of Technology and Computing
• Mr Carr – Teacher of Computing and Technology
• Mrs Rostron – Teacher of Computing and Technology
• Mrs Midgley – Teacher of Computing and Technology
• Miss Chambers – Teacher of Art and Technology
• Mr Thomas (Assistant Headteacher)

Accommodation

We have a purpose built department with 5 specialist subject rooms and one central ICT/CADCAM (computer aided design, computer aided manufacture) area. The department is equipped with 40+ computers that operate the latest specialist design software such as 2d Design, ProEngineer, Circuit Wizard, Speedstep and Adobe Photoshop.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Design and Technology have remodelled the key stage 3 curriculum to ensure that all of the requirements of the new GCSE DT are included and the skills and knowledge that the students will need to succeed are built in right from the beginning of year 7.

In Year 7, students study through a variety of Design and making activities:

Technology in society: This 2 week module introduces the pupils to Design Technology and how important it is to design with the environment in mind.  The concept of the Six R principles and ‘product life cycle.’  Pupils use an old plastic bottle and remake it into a useful product.

Making: This 5 week module based in the Textiles area, introduces pupils to a range of different fabrics and the properties of natural and synthetic fibres.  They gain inspiration from a different culture to create pattern repeats using CAD/CAM.  They learn sewing machine skills to produce a lantern.

Cooking and Nutrition: This 5 week module provides an introduction to the principals of nutrition and health. The pupils will become competent in a range of cooking techniques for example using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in a variety of ways, using an awareness of sensory attributes, knife skills and developing healthy products.  They will make healthy scones, soup and cous cous salad.

Design: This 10 week module will encourage pupils to analyse a topic, produce research and develop specifications.  Pupils will then develop a range of solutions using design techniques and CAD to produce a laser cut headphone wrap.

Design and make: This 10 week module provides an introduction to both Resistant Materials and Electronics, combining features from both to create a clock that has a rainbow LED feature controlled by a light dependent resistor.  Pupils will learn about the properties of materials, how to cut, file and finish acrylic as well as how to populate and solder a circuit, flying leads and health and safety.

In Year 8 students study through a variety of Design and making activities:

Making:  This 7 week module, based in the Textiles area, increases pupils knowledge of fabrics and their properties. They learn how to apply colour and pattern onto fabric by hand and computer techniques. They design and make a pencil case, applying colour and pattern, adding a zip, applique work and other decorative techniques.

Cooking and Nutrition: During this 7 week module pupils will learn about a healthy diet, become competent in a range of cooking techniques, how to combine ingredients and adapt their own recipes. They will cook savoury dishes, investigate the function of ingredients and design and make products of their own.

Making: During this 7 week module pupils will investigate a range of making skills in order to manufacture a mobile phone docking station.Students will be trained to use a wide range of workshop machinery, and electronics manufacturing equipment in order to produce a fully functional product. Students will experience working with a range of materials and will learn about their working properties during this topic.

Designing:  This 7 week module incorporates a number of different drawing and designing elements from designing with a particular context in mind to analysing a topic and producing research that will allow them to develop a detailed specification. Pupils will then develop a range of solutions for a Mars Robot using smart and modern materials through, design, annotation and modelling techniques. Pupils are encouraged to be as self-directed as possible and draw on inspiration from new and future technologies when designing.

Designing: This 7 week module introduces students to Robotics. Through the assembly and programming of a BBC Microbit controlled robot, students have the opportunity to investigate key Technology principles such as forces, motion, gears, levers, energy, the environment and sustainability. Students learn to adapt their robots to be able to complete tasks in a range of different physical environments through a variety of challenges.

Year 9 students select 3 of the following 5 design and make activities to study, giving them the opportunity to specialise in areas of specific interest to them:

Technical drawing: All students study this 3 week module that will give them the opportunity to learn a variety of technical drawing techniques from Isometric, Orthographic and Exploded drawings. This will enable them to communicate their design ideas for future projects.

Design & Make: This 10 week module will teach the pupils how to design and make an electronic product to solve a real world problem for a client. Modelled closely on the new GCSE requirements, students will have the opportunity to carry out initial research, client interviews and product analysis tasks which will help them with the design, development and programming of a microcontroller and a casing to meet their clients needs. Students will learn the systems approach to PCB design, as well as a range on manufacturing techniques that are suitable for producing electronic housings.

Design & Make: This 10 week module in the Textiles room involves students designing and making a cover to protect an ipad. During the 10 weeks pupils will have the opportunity to create designs based on Graffiti art, Pop Art, Vintage or Flower Power. Develop their skills with textile techniques such as sublimation printing, laser cutting, patchwork, applique, reverse applique, free hand embroidery and machine embroidery. Students will also learn about Smart fabrics including colour changing materials.

Cooking and Nutrition: During this 10 week module pupils will concentrate on investigating and making street food from around the world. Pupils will focus on investigating the foods available in different cultures, making a range of street foods and presenting them, experimenting with the functions of ingredients, working individually and in groups to prepare their own menu.

Design & Make: This 10 week module focuses on robotics. Students have the opportunity to assemble, programme and control a number of VEX IQ clawbots. During the assembly of the clawbots students will get hands on experience at using gears, levers, sensors, mechanisms and pulleys. Students will learn about how to use gear ratios, how to program their robots to respond to 6 different types of sensor and how to develop their robot so it can successfully complete a range of challenges in the schools VEX IQ arena.

Design & Prototype: This 10 week module will teach the pupils how to design and prototype a piece of architecture. Pupils will develop their knowledge and application of iterative design and will learn about a selection of 21st century iconic designers. Pupils will work with a variety of CAD packages including 2D Design, Google Sketchup and OnShape. Students will gain a good working knowledge of compliant materials and knowledge of 3D printing as well as a selection of decoration and quick assembly techniques.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Students choose their GCSE course at the end of Year 9. The range of Design & Technology GCSE syllabuses available to pupils during 2018/19 are:

GCSE Design & Technology (AQA)
GCSE Design & Technology with Textiles focus (Edexcel)
GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition (AQA)
Further details on course content and specification can be found on their websites:  http://www.edexcel.org.uk        www.aqa.org.uk

Course Content

Whichever Design & Technology course is chosen, students will be required to complete both a practical project and a terminal examination during Year 11. These are weighted as below for all of the Design & Technology subjects.

Non Examined Assessment (50%) + Examination (50%) = GCSE (100%)

Non Examined Assessment (NEA) Details

The Design & Technology NEA will consist of a single project that will be undertaken during Year 11. The student and the teacher will select this project from the list given by the examination board in June of Year 10. It will involve the production of a design folio and lead to the manufacture of a chosen project.

The Food preparation and Nutrition GCSE consists of 2 NEA tasks. Task 1 (15%) is a food investigation which involves a written report on a practical investigation and will assess students understanding of properties of ingredients etc. Task 2 (35%) is a food preparation assessment where students design and produce 3 dishes.

Examination Details

Students will start the preparation for the Design & Technology examinations at the beginning of Year 10. The paper is not tiered which allows all students full access to the whole range of grades 9-1. The examination papers will be completed during the summer term of Year 11.

Extra Curricular Activities and Visits

The department organises and runs several educational visits. We have a Year 8 residential retreat to Conwy, Wales which through activities such as archery, high/low ropes course, hill walking, gorge walking, canoeing, MTB and climbing, develops students problem solving skills, team working and leadership skills amongst others.

Other recent trips have included visits to London, The Big Bang fair, Leyland trucks and the NEC Birmingham clothes show.

Design and Technology co-ordinate and run an extremely popular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) club which is open to all year groups and gives students a huge range of amazing opportunities to participate in regional and national competitions. Within the last year, the STEM club has won several of these competitions such as the regional Rotary Club competition and the national IET Faraday competition. They were also finalists at the AluPro and EEP Robotics competions. STEM club runs on Tuesdays after school, is co-ordinated by Mrs Caw and involves a range of Technology, Maths and Science staff.