Design and Technology
The Importance of Design & Technology
Students learn effectively through a 'hands on' approach to learning, through challenging projects and engaging lessons.
Subject Areas Delivered:
At Key Stage 3 the department creates opportunities for students to develop a breadth of experience across all disciplines. Students will study all D&T subject areas in specialist rooms, typically studying one different project per term. In this way, students get a good feel for all disciplines and will have experience and knowledge of working with woods, metals, plastics, electronic control and graphics based modelling materials through challenging projects. A small financial contribution towards the cost of projects is appreciated and students are encouraged to take all made artefacts home.
Key stage 4
In Key Stage 4 students have the opportunity to opt for one or more of the subjects detailed below:
Resistant Materials.
In year 10 students will develop their design and make skills through two mini projects – one based mainly around woods & plastics and one based around metals. Later in year 10 students will begin their GCSE major project where students choose from a wide range of project outlines and design and make something of their choice and from their preferred choice of materials. Students will take their completed practical projects home.
Graphic Products
This course embraces many areas including those of design, modelling technical graphics and technical drawing as means of visual communication. In Year 10 a range of set exercises and mini projects are used to develop, drawing and presentation skills, subject knowledge and the necessary practical skills for producing 2-D and 3-D design solutions in modelling materials. The materials used include, different types of papers, card, foamboard, fluted board (corrugated card), Styrofoam and other lighter plastics. Later in Year 10 the students begin their GCSE major project which is chosen from a wide range of project outlines.
Electronic Products
Pupils learn about electronic components, building blocks and circuits. This allows them to analyse and develop and develop electronic products.
Circuits are designed on computer design programmes, tested then made into real life circuit boards.
Casings are designed and made using a variety of methods and materials.
The use of programmable microchips, as used in industry, is now standard in GCSE projects.
Systems & Control
Similar in 70% to the Electronics course content Systems also has the addition of Mechanisms and Structures.
Systems and Control is aimed at pupils who are looking at a technical career in Electrical or Mechanical engineering. Because of this it is expected that pupils have a decent grasp of maths as there are some calculations associated with this.
Pupils will use computers extensively and model electronics and mechanisms as well as construction kit modelling.
Once again programmable microchips are used extensively in GCSE work.
Construction (BTec)
In construction students learn through completion of a number of theory and practical based units covering Health & Safety, The Structure of the Construction Industry, Joinery, Painting & Decorating and Building. All units require students to be able to write up their evidence of unit completion and it must be understood that this is not a purely practical option.
Subject Areas Delivered:
- Resistant Materials
- Graphic Products
- Systems
- Electronics
- Construction
At Key Stage 3 the department creates opportunities for students to develop a breadth of experience across all disciplines. Students will study all D&T subject areas in specialist rooms, typically studying one different project per term. In this way, students get a good feel for all disciplines and will have experience and knowledge of working with woods, metals, plastics, electronic control and graphics based modelling materials through challenging projects. A small financial contribution towards the cost of projects is appreciated and students are encouraged to take all made artefacts home.
Key stage 4
In Key Stage 4 students have the opportunity to opt for one or more of the subjects detailed below:
Resistant Materials.
In year 10 students will develop their design and make skills through two mini projects – one based mainly around woods & plastics and one based around metals. Later in year 10 students will begin their GCSE major project where students choose from a wide range of project outlines and design and make something of their choice and from their preferred choice of materials. Students will take their completed practical projects home.
Graphic Products
This course embraces many areas including those of design, modelling technical graphics and technical drawing as means of visual communication. In Year 10 a range of set exercises and mini projects are used to develop, drawing and presentation skills, subject knowledge and the necessary practical skills for producing 2-D and 3-D design solutions in modelling materials. The materials used include, different types of papers, card, foamboard, fluted board (corrugated card), Styrofoam and other lighter plastics. Later in Year 10 the students begin their GCSE major project which is chosen from a wide range of project outlines.
Electronic Products
Pupils learn about electronic components, building blocks and circuits. This allows them to analyse and develop and develop electronic products.
Circuits are designed on computer design programmes, tested then made into real life circuit boards.
Casings are designed and made using a variety of methods and materials.
The use of programmable microchips, as used in industry, is now standard in GCSE projects.
Systems & Control
Similar in 70% to the Electronics course content Systems also has the addition of Mechanisms and Structures.
Systems and Control is aimed at pupils who are looking at a technical career in Electrical or Mechanical engineering. Because of this it is expected that pupils have a decent grasp of maths as there are some calculations associated with this.
Pupils will use computers extensively and model electronics and mechanisms as well as construction kit modelling.
Once again programmable microchips are used extensively in GCSE work.
Construction (BTec)
In construction students learn through completion of a number of theory and practical based units covering Health & Safety, The Structure of the Construction Industry, Joinery, Painting & Decorating and Building. All units require students to be able to write up their evidence of unit completion and it must be understood that this is not a purely practical option.
