Who We Are

• Miss K Ridgers - Curriculum Leader for Design and Technology
• Mrs J Meader
• Mrs L Lewis
• Mrs I Pinheiro Guerreiro

 

As part of their work with design and technology pupils should be inspired through research and practical activities. Using creativity and imagination, pupils will learn how to research, design, make and evaluate their own products that solve real life problems. Pupils will learn how to take risks, understand context, develop practical skills and become resourceful, innovate, capable and inspiring citizens. Pupils will develop a critical understanding of the impact of technology on daily life and the wider world, with a wider understanding of sustainability in the current climate.

Key Stage 3

Pupils will be taught to:

• Understand previous design movements and research the work of others to inspire design
• Explore design ideas and understand different avenues for design communication
• Become competent in a range of practical skills to help create high quality prototypes and products for a range of users and clients
• Critique, evaluate and test their products against a design brief a specification, both set my others and created by themselves following independent research.

Key stage 4 

The GCSE subject content sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills common to all GCSE specifications in design and technology to ensure progression from key stage 3 national curriculum requirements and the possibility of development to further study. It provides the framework within which awarding organisations create the detail of the subject specification. GCSE specifications in design and technology must reflect the subject aims and learning outcomes.

GCSE specifications in design and technology must equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to make a range of high-quality prototypes and products. They should encourage students to design and make products with carefully chosen and justified materials and enable them to make informed decisions about a wide range of further learning opportunities and career pathways as well as develop vital life skills for now and later in life.

In studying food preparation and nutrition, students must:

• Use research and exploration, such as the study of different cultures, past design movements and current designer to identify and understand user needs.
• Identify and solve problems that are given to them.
• Develop specifications to inform the design or innovate, functional and appealing products that respond to different needs in a variety of situations.
• Understand and demonstrate a variety of communication techniques to display design ideas
• Understand and accurately select and use a range of specialist tools, techniques, processes, equipment and machinery precisely.
• Analyse the work of past and present professionals to develop their own work and ideas.
• Test, evaluate and refine their own ideas and products against a specification, taking into account the view of intended users.
• Understand developments in design and technology, its impacts of individuals, society and the environment, and the responsibilities of designers and engineers.
• Understand and accurately select and use a range of materials based on their properties and suitability to a particular product
   

AQA GCSE Assessment Details.

Each student has a 2 hour written exam, this makes up 50% of the marks.

Pupils also carry out an NEA project showing their investigation, design, making and testing skills in a portfolio consisting of 30-35 hours of work.

September 2022