Technology

"Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future."

Robert L. Peters, designer and author

Vision

To provide a range of inspiring, rigorous and practical subjects. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others' needs, wants and values. Pupils will develop resilience and problem solving skills in diverse learning environments with opportunities to experience the real world of DT and Food Industries.

Curriculum Intent

Schemes of work will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. Students will study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth.

The subject of Design Technology encourages problem solving, innovation, planning and evaluation as autonomous learners within the skills based learning at KS3 planned using the NC POS so that by the beginning of KS4 all learners have a bank of knowledge, understanding and skills that allow them to access the GCSE which is based on iterative processes.

In Cooking and Nutrition learners are given the opportunity to develop food preparation and cooking skills as well as transferable skills of problem solving, organisation and time management, planning and communication. It will instil a love of cooking which is one of the great expressions of human creativity. They will develop a life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. They will be able to apply the principles of nutrition and health when planning and making mainly savoury dishes and will show an understanding of the nutritional value, the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients.

As the school has such a broad range of feeder primary schools we plan our KS3 curriculum to build upon the legal entitlement for D&T and Cooking and Nutrition delivered at KS2. We develop existing skills and knowledge to ensure learners have an understanding of materials, tools, equipment and processes. In GCSE Design Technology, learners need a base of knowledge to select appropriate methods of manufacture and we build this knowledge up in KS3.

Implementation

 The key stage three curriculum has been designed to meet the criteria set out in the NC KS3 POS to build upon KS2 and develop design skills, practical skills and deepen the understanding of D&T theoretical knowledge. We establish what design and technology actually is and build from there. During KS3 we build students skills and knowledge and assess their progress using a range of assessment techniques including end of rotation tests. Students design for a user(s) considering their wants and needs and the impact their design can have socially, morally and environmentally. We aim to deliver lessons using a range of materials to broaden the learners experience and skills with a range of tools and equipment as well as finishing techniques. We aim to give learners opportunities to work with plastics, metals, wood, textiles, systems and controls and smart materials as well as design skills. We currently deliver: Metals, wood, papers and boards, systems and controls and textiles with the staffing structure at the moment.

Curriculum Overview

To see an overview of the curriculum and how parents can support their child's learning, please click here.

Learning Journeys

Design & Technology Learning Journey

Food Technology Learning Journey

Product Design Learning Journey

​Be Ambitious

Ambitious activities are those that take your regular curriculum further. They take the subjects you study in the classroom beyond that which your teacher has taught you or what you’ve done for home learning. For example, you may go into more depth on something you picked up in the classroom or learn about a new topic altogether. These activities are normally in the form of extra reading, but they can take many other forms, like watching videos online, downloading podcasts, attending lectures, visiting museums or entering academic competitions.

In the future, employers or universities will be interested to hear about what ambitious activities you have engaged in; they will be interested in what you have learnt and impressed by your efforts. Click here for further details

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