What we are trying to achieve with students
Our aim in Design Technology is to prepare pupils for the challenges they will face in a rapidly changing technological society. The skills they will develop will enable them to analyse situations and produce viable solutions to both practical and graphical tasks which, in the upper school, will include aspects of industrial and commercial production techniques, marketing and advertising and the latest developments in cutting edge materials.
The courses we run
KS3: Pupils undertake a variety of Design and Make activities and skills based projects to solve design tasks using a range of materials and practical processes using woods, metals and plastics. The work includes an introduction to the use of ICT for CAD and CAM.
KS4: Exam Board: EDEXCEL
Subjects: Design Technology ‘Resistant Materials Technology’ and ‘Graphic Products’
Controlled Assessment: 60%; Examination: 40%
In Year 10 students undertake a variety of practical and design tasks to prepare them for the major project that they have to submit in Year 11. The theory of materials, components, processes, health and safety and issues of sustainability are also included. The Controlled Assessment project is started in Year 10 and has to be completed by Easter in Year 11.
KS5: Exam Board: EDEXCEL
Subjects: Design and Technology – Product Design ‘Resistant Materials Technology’ and ‘Graphics with Materials Technology’
Coursework: 50%; Examination: 50%
AS: The courses consist of two units. Unit 1 is a portfolio of Creative Skills that cover the three key aspects of Design Technology – Product Evaluation, Product Design and Product Manufacture. The work covers the analysis of products that have been produced to solve every day problems, the designing of new solutions to a problem and the skills needed to plan and make a practical piece of work which would be a 2D and 3D solution in Graphics. Theory work is covered to prepare students for the 90 minute examination in Unit 2 – Design and Technology in Practice.
A2: For Unit 3 Students study a further range of theory topics including the use of Information Technology, Biotechnology, systems and control, Design in context, sustainability and the historical influences that have affected design in the past. Students also undertake an extended Design and Make project that enables them to display the skills that they developed in Year 12. This is Unit 4 of the full A level course – Commercial Design.
Gifted and Talented Students
A Subject Specialist demonstrates the following skills:
- An ability to generate a wide variety of design ideas.
- An ability to present design ideas with precision.
- An ability to apply drawing techniques (including Orthographic drawing and isometric drawing) when presenting ideas.
- An ability to annotate design ideas fully (referring to materials, manufacturing methods, target market, cost and environment.)
- An ability to apply their knowledge of tools and equipment to design related tasks.
- An ability to apply their knowledge of materials and their properties to design related tasks.
- That they can work with tools and equipment with confidence and ease.
- An ability to analyse and evaluate products with suggestions for improvement.
Items of particular interest for Gifted and Talented students
- Support ‘clinics’ operate throughout KS 4 and 5 courses.
- D&T clubs are held after school for pupils in Years 7.
- RBWM DT Network Design Competitions