In design and technology students combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs.  They learn to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments.  They learn to think creatively and intervene to improve the quality of life, solving problems as individuals and members of a team.

Working in stimulating contexts that provide a range of opportunities, they respond with ideas, products and systems, challenging expectations where appropriate.  They combine practical and intellectual skills with an understanding of aesthetic, technical, cultural, health, social, emotional, economic, industrial and environmental issues.

As they do so, they evaluate present and past design and technology, and its uses and effects.  Through design and technology students develop confidence in using practical skills and become discriminating users.

Key Stage Three 

The department is timetabled with Art and ICT and students are in the department for three hours a fortnight, one of which is studying Food Technology.

The School has a policy of incorporating Information Technology within each teaching area and all students are encouraged to make full use of Information Technology in their work.

The work and progress of each student is carefully monitored and recorded in order that we can build up a detailed profile of their progress and achievements.  Towards the end of Key Stage 3, students are guided towards their courses for Key Stage 4 GCSE.

Key Stage Four,

From September 2017 we will be offering the following GCSE courses in the Design and Technology Department:

• OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

• AQA GCSE Design and Technology

• Level 1 Creative Craft

All students are able to study one or two of these courses and will spend 5 one hour lessons per fortnight in their subject area.

During Year 10 Design and Technology students cover the course material through responding in a range of challenging and engaging design and manufacture projects.  The Controlled Assessment Coursework (50% of the final GCSE grade) is started in the second half of the Summer Term of Year 10 and continues through to the end of the Spring Term in Year 11.

In GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition the controlled Assessment Coursework (50% of the final GCSE grade) is split equally over the two years with the first unit in Year 10 and the second in Year 11.

The remaining 50% of each of the three GCSE courses are achieved in the Summer examinations in Year 11.

Staff

Mr G. Dean - Head of Design and Technology Faculty

Mr S. Sparkes - Teacher of Design and Technology

Mrs M. Hollands - Teacher of Design and Technology (KS3 Food and GCSE Food Technology)

Mrs B Baldwin - (KS3 Food and GCSE Food Technology)

Supporting Resources:

Amazon sells the following revision guides:

AQA GCSE Design and Technology Revisiion Guide

OCR GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition Revision Guide

My Revision Notes: WJEC Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering

Weblinks:
technologystudent

bbc.co.uk design_and_technology
design-technology
instructables.com