Design & Technology
Curriculum Leader: Mr D. Allen
The D&T department aims to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of contemporary and traditional design by working through a range of topics, including design and make projects, modelling activities and focused research tasks.
The subject is taught by an enthusiastic group of teachers who have a wide variety of analytical, design and making skills, including traditional hand skills, and computer-based skills, meaning that students are well-informed when making their chosen outcomes.
The department consists of modern Food Preparation and Nutrition rooms, four well equipped multi-media workshops, and two Textiles rooms. We encourage pupils to make use of all facilities on offer, including the laser cutter and 3D printer.
At Key Stage 3, students are taught in four one-hour lessons per fortnight in Design and Technology, focusing on the key skills of investigation, designing, making and evaluating.
The lessons are divided between product design, textiles and food preparation and nutrition to allow students to develop skills and knowledge in all areas of the subjects with a multi-disciplinary approach.
Pupils in Year 9 will be taught as a ‘transition year’ to key stage 4 where the principles of ‘good design’ will be promoted using an iterative approach to the design and development of ideas. This will be through the use of a multi-material approach encompassing graphic, textile and product design. Food preparation and nutrition will build on and advance cooking skills, links to the science behind the processes and extending students’ knowledge of nutrition.
Pupils will have the opportunity to specialise further at KS4.
To find the programme of study for D&T, please click here.
Here are some examples of work from our KS3 students:
Design Technology
Pupils will study an exciting and diverse range of disciplines covering all areas of Design and Technology, including investigations into design styles, modern and contemporary designers and issues influencing designers today.
Pupils will learn how systems work to enhance people’s lives, gain a greater appreciation of the different cultural effects that are present in a multi-cultural environment, in addition to developing a greater understanding of how materials, processes, systems and products have evolved as technology has developed.
Year 10 pupils will focus more on a material specialism, whereas Year 11 will be spent covering a major project that will contribute to the pupils’ final GCSE grade, as well as preparing for the end of year examination.
The AQA GCSE specification that can be viewed here.
The breakdown of this course is 50% Non-examined assessment, 50% Examination.
Here are some examples of our KS4 student’s work:
Food Preparation and Nutrition
Pupils in years 10-11 have the opportunity to study the new and exciting Food Preparation and Nutrition 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 developing 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.
The breakdown of this course is 15% Food Investigation, 35% Food Preparation assessment, 50% Examination.
To find the specification for Food Preparation and Nutrition, click here.
BTEC tech award Engineering
Pupils will explore a range of engineering sectors, the role of design in engineering and how these integrate together to solve real-life problems. Through product investigations pupils will explore the types of materials, components and processes used to make products. Similar to the GCSE in design technology you will need to develop a range of skills, including research and independent-learning skills, communication and teamwork skills and presentation skills. Practical coursework requires pupils to respond to a real life brief and will require pupils to develop an engineering-based product.
Achievement at Level 2 provides a suitable foundation for further study within the sector at Level 3 including A level Design and Technology-Product Design or progression onto an apprenticeship.
The course is broken down into 3 components. Components 1 and 2 are project based and total 60% of this course. Component 3 is an externally assessed written exam and total the remaining 40%
Final grading for this level 2 BTEC will range in four tiers from Pass to Distinction*
The BTEC tech award specification can be found here.
We offer Product Design for those who wish to continue studying the subject at A-Level. Students will learn about a range of designers, design styles and principles, as well as being given the opportunity to experiment in more depth with a range of modern materials and techniques.
The breakdown for the course is: 50% Design and Make Project (non-examined assessment),
2x examinations (Technical Principles (30%) and Designing and Making Principles (20%).
Here are the specifications for Product Design.
A level Design and Technology : Product design
The Product design course enables pupils with a genuine interest in designing and making to continue studying in the subject at A-Level. Students will learn about a range of designers, design styles and principles, as well as being given the opportunity to experiment in more depth with a range of modern materials and techniques.
The major coursework project is based on a student selected brief and will enable them to demonstrate their skills in research and development, prototyping, analysis and evaluative skills, all valued attributes employers look for.
The breakdown for the course is: 50% Design and Make Project (non-examined assessment),
2x examinations (Technical Principles (30%) and Designing and Making Principles (20%).
Here are the specifications for Product Design.
A- level Design and Technology: Fashion and Textiles
This is an exciting course which will appeal to those that have a serious interest in fashion and textiles. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer. Coursework involves an in depth project, working to a design brief set by the students. The course is underpinned by creative, thought provoking practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Students investigate designers and the history of fashion, industrial manufacturing issues, fabric manipulation, construction techniques and the development of design work through drawing and CAD (including fashion illustration). Students investigate smart and modern materials, the properties of fabrics and current trends in the textiles market. It is not necessary to have studied Textiles at GCSE to be successful in this course.
The breakdown for the course is: 50% Design and Make Project (non-examined assessment),
2x examinations (Technical Principles (30%) and Designing and Making Principles (20%).
Here are the specifications for Fashion and Textiles:
It is not necessary to have studied Textiles at GCSE to be successful in this course.
In addition to the projects we teach in lessons, we also enter pupils in competitions such as the Design Museum ‘Design Ventura’, ‘Inspirations’ at Elvington and the Rotary Club technology challenge, where pupils are able to practise their engineering skills or showcase their work. We have been particularly successful over the last few years, with pupils winning the ‘Inspirations’ day at Elvington and being put forward to the national Big Bang engineering finals.
The department also encourages students who intend to follow a career in an engineering field to apply for the Arkwright scholarship who support students in following this career path during their studies at A level.
In addition to taking part in external events, we also run a Master chef competition and take part in various STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) based events.