Design + Technology
Department Head: Mr P Williams (Resistant Materials & Graphic Products)
Department Members:
Mr. P Booth (Electronics & Resistant Materials), Mrs. L Rowell (Food Technology & Resistant Materials), Mrs. C Cherry (Food Technology & Resistant Materials)
The Aims and Objectives of the Department
Design and Technology (DT) prepares pupils to participate in tomorrow's rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve quality of life.
The subject calls for pupils to become autonomous and creative problem solvers, as individuals and members of a team. They must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and system. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its uses and effects. Through DT all students can become discriminating and informed users of products and become innovators.
D&T at Key Stage 3
DT is compulsory at KS3. During this time students will use a wide range of materials to design and make products. They work out their ideas with some precision, taking into account how products will be used, who will use them, how much they cost and their appearance.
Students develop their understanding of designing and making by investigating products and finding out about the work of professional designers and manufacturing industry. They use computers, including Computer Aided Design/Manufacture ( CAD/CAM) software and control software as an integral part of designing and making. They draw on knowledge and understanding from other areas of the Curriculum.
Year 7 - 3x 1 hour sessions
Year 8 - 4x 1 hour sessions
Year 9 - 3x 1 hour sessions
D&T at Key Stage 4
During this time students take part in Design and make projects that are linked to their own interests, industrial practice and the community. Projects may involve an enterprise activity where pupils identify an opportunity, design to meet a need, manufacture products and evaluate the whole design and make process. Pupils use ICT to help with their work including Computer Aided Design/Manufacture ( CAD/CAM) software and control programs as well as ICT based sources research. They consider how technology affects society and their own lives and learn that the new technologies have both advantages and disadvantages.
Year 10 & 11 - 5x 1 hour sessions
Subjects offered at GCSE include: Resistant Materials Technology, Electronic Products, Graphic Products, Food Technology
All of the above are 'Full Course' and follow Assessment Qualifications Alliance syllabi. More information can be found at http://www.aqa.org.uk
