Design, Technology & Engineering

Key Stage Three

At Key Stage 3 we offer our students the opportunity to experience working in a range of different areas. Projects are designed to ensure that students meet the new programmes of study and during each project students are assessed in 3 key skill areas: Design including research, Development including planning, Making. 

To read about steps to success in Design and Technology, please click on the pdf document (KS3 Steps to success)

Our projects for 2017/2018 are as follows;

Year 7                                                                                               

• Textiles - Ugly Dolls                                  
• Graphics – Paper Engineering
• Computer Aided Design – Phone Holder
• Resistant Materials - Travel Game

Year 8

• Resistant Materials – Photo Frame
• Design History
• Food and Nutrition
• Engineering

Year 9     

• Graphic Communication
• Food and Nutrition
• Resistant Materials
• Engineering

Key Stage Four

The aim of the GCSE courses and Technical Awards are to encourage students to use their designing and making skills to produce good quality products; to foster student’s capability in technology through activities which involve a range of situations, materials and processes.  We offer a range of courses at KS4 to enable students to build on their strengths and capabilities.

 

GCSE’s

•GCSE Engineering

Engineering covers a broad range of materials and technologies.  You will cover a series of mini projects to help develop your understanding of materials.  You will also take part in the Formula 1 for schools competitions which will test your skills in mechanical, electronic and structural engineering systems.

                       

•GCSE Food Prep & Nutrition

This new GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is an exciting and creative course which focuses on practical cooking skills to ensure students develop a thorough understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of food materials. At its heart, this qualification focuses on nurturing students' practical cookery skills to give them a strong understanding of nutrition.

• Food preparation skills are integrated into five core topics:
• Food, nutrition and health
• Food science
• Food safety
• Food choice
• Food provenance.

 

Coursework element 50%      Final examination 50%

With both the GCSE and Technical Awards students will complete a coursework unit of work.  The context and design brief will be set by the exam board in year 11 and students will have one year to complete the component.

 

Technical Awards

• Food and Cooking
• Craft - with a focus on Resistant Materials

4 Units - Including 1 exam

Technical Awards give a more hands-on approach to learning.  These awards have a greater focus on specialist skills so that you can focus on an area you’re really interested in.  These awards are non-Ebacc subjects and are ideal for learners who prefer practical rather than theoretical learning.  All of the Technical Awards have been tailored towards a specific career area and all have a focus on creativity.

 

Key Stage Five

In the sixth form we currently offer students AQA 3D Product Design. Within this syllabus students are able to focus on a variety of materials and manufacturing techniques depending on their strengths gained through any of the technologies studied at GCSE. The specification has been designed to encourage candidates to take a broad view of design and technology, to develop their capacity to design and make products and to appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture and marketing.

Product Design encompasses a wide range of design disciplines but is firmly rooted in the skills required to design and make high quality products using a wide range of materials. Products that are fit for purpose, satisfies wants and needs, enhances our day to day lives and, most importantly, give students the opportunity to demonstrate their design and technology capability.

First year students are given the opportunity to develop their creative, technical and practical skills through a series of product investigation, design and manufacturing activities. Second year students apply the skills they have acquired to design, develop, and make a product of their choice.

The knowledge, skills and understanding gained are seen as being of great benefit to anyone pursuing further education courses giving students strong analytical and research skills.

We have a dedicated sixth form workshop available to the students throughout school day. It is fully equipped with all the necessary tools and machinery required at this level. It also includes up to date CAD/CAM facilities to ensure the students experience processes at the cutting edge of Technology education in schools.

 

AS UNITS

Unit 1: Materials, Components and Application (80 Marks)

Written Paper 50% of the total AS marks

2 hours 25% of the total A Level marks

This paper is based primarily on Materials and Components. Consisting of three sections:

Section 1 contains compulsory limited response questions

Section 2 offers a choice of one question from two

Section 3 contains one compulsory question

 

Unit 2: Learning Through Designing and Making (80 Marks)

Coursework 50% of the total AS marks

Approx. 50 hours 25% of the total A Level marks

Written (or electronic) design portfolio Manufactured outcome(s)

Coursework may take a number of forms; a single design-and-make project, two smaller projects and/or a portfolio of work

 

A2 UNITS

Unit 3: Design and Manufacture (84 Marks)

Written paper

2 hours 25% of the total A Level marks

This paper is based primarily on Design and Manufacture.

Consisting of two sections (with three questions in each section), with a choice of three questions from six.

Candidates are required to answer one question from each section and also a final question from either section.

This written paper will include sufficient synoptic assessment to test the candidates’ understanding of the connections between the different elements of the subject and their holistic understanding of the subject.

 

Unit 4: Design and Making Practice (85 Marks)

Coursework

Approx. 60 hours 25% of the total A Level marks

Written (or electronic) design folder

Manufactured outcome

Candidates submit evidence of a single, substantial designing and making activity