Subject

Design Technology

KS3
During the Resistant Materials rotation pupils are taught the importance of health and safety within the workshop. They will learn how to correctly use the tools and equipment when creating different Design and Make projects. At the end of the rotation pupils will have a product to take home with them. Throughout KS3 pupils will develop their skills in the Research, Design and Make process to understand how a product would be created in industry. Pupils will use a range of skills including 3D drawing and design, laser cutter and 2D design programme, hand and electrical tools within the workshop.

KS4
Two subjects are offered on KS4 in the Design and Technology workshop, they are Product design and Construction. Product Design- 2 Year course with an external exam worth 50% and NEA coursework worth 50%. During Year 10 pupils will gain a wider knowledge and understanding of Product Design, understanding different materials and processes that are used to create products. Everything that is covered in Year 10 will help towards their exam in Year 11. Year 10 topics- Paper and boards Natural and manufactured timber Ferrous and Non-Ferrous metals Thermoforming and thermosetting polymers Modern and Smart materials The sources, origins, physical and working properties of materials, components and systems The way in which the selection of materials or components is influenced by a range of factors such as functional, aesthetic, environmental, availability, cost, social, cultural and ethical Stock forms, types and sizes in order to calculate and determine the quantity of materials or components required Alternative processes that can be used to manufacture products to different scales of production Specialist techniques and processes that can be used to shape, fabricate, construct and assemble a high quality prototype Appropriate surface treatments and finishes that can be applied for functional and aesthetic purposes Year 11- Pupils will create a prototype during their main project, they will be given three design briefs to choose from at the beginning of the year and then create a project based on that design brief. They will research existing products, choose a target audience, create design ideas and models and then start thinking about the process they will use to create their design. Pupils will need to choose the correct materials to create the structure of their prototype and then this will be evaluated by their chosen target audience. The assessment criteria is split up into the following sections- Identifying design possibilities. Developing a design brief and specification. Generating and developing design ideas. Making a prototype. Evaluating a prototype's fitness for purpose Once completed these projects will be assessed by external examiners. Construction- Level 1/ 2 qualification. You will study three different units over the 2 Years. Unit 1-Safety and security in construction. Unit 2- Developing construction projects. Unit 3- Planning construction projects. One unit is a 60 minute external exam completed on the computer in school, the other two units are internally assessed. Each unit will have assignments that will be assessed over the two years. These are both controlled assessments that will be moderated by an examiner. This qualification can help pupils who would like to leave school and either go to college or complete an apprenticeship or even just have life skills to help them complete jobs around the house. It can help pupils gain the knowledge of how to complete different trade tasks such as painting or wallpapering and understand the importance of health and safety on a construction site. Throughout the course pupils will gain a number of skills including- skills required for independent learning and development; a range of generic and transferable skills; the ability to solve problems; the skills of project based research, development and presentation; the fundamental ability to work alongside other professionals, in a professional environment; the ability to apply learning in vocational contexts.