Design & Technology
Head of Design and Technology
KS3
Before starting in year 7, many students will not have much experience preparing and cooking food, or using workshop tools to make or repair products. We teach using a combination of theoretical and practical experiences to make the learning fun, relevant and challenging whilst ensuring that it is accessible for all.
All students in years 7 and 8 work in the Food, Textiles and Materials workshops. Rotating through these subjects termly, in two hours per week, they learn how to analyse, design and make in a range of materials. In year 9, the rotations are shorter and they also learn how to use SolidWorks and 3D print their designs. We use our own designed booklets for each unit which students use to record their work. Wherever possible, students are taught design theory through practical design and make projects.
D&T Learning JourneyStudent success is often celebrated across the department. To keep up with what is happening, please follow us on Twitter @TheKingsDandT
KS4
All students may opt for any of our GCSE courses which include: EDUQAS Food Preparation and Nutrition; AQA Textile Design; AQA Design and Technology (Electronics and Mechanisms); and AQA Design and Technology (Materials - Wood, Metal & Plastics). All of these courses are taught by experienced subject specialists and we adapt the way that we teach our courses according to the changing needs and interests of our students. We issue students with CGP revision guides early on in the courses to help them to successfully prepare for their exams. In addition to learning theory, throughout the courses there are many opportunities to learn and develop practical skills.
GCSE Textile Design (AQA)
This creative and practical course offers students an opportunity to pursue a GCSE in Textiles, centred around using themes, developing ideas, and making. This course is ideal for anyone who enjoys working with the medium of textiles, developing and studying ideas and working with practical processes and 3D forms. Students will learn about textile design, fashion design and interiors, and how they can develop their ideas to make products or artistic responses. They will respond to subject matter and explore a wide range of creative techniques such as screen printing, digital textile design, appliqué, machine and CAD (Computer Aided Design) embroidery, laser cutting, clothing construction and interiors. This GCSE is a fantastic course for students who enjoy working in Design & Textiles but wish to focus on the creative making process. It can lead on to further or higher study in textiles, fashion, interiors, or any future job role where creative thinking and responding is required.
GCSE Design and Technology (AQA):
Materials:
The GCSE prepares you to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Through a mix of practical and theoretical tasks, you will learn about wider influences on design and technology and work creatively when designing and making. This GCSE allows you to study core designing and making principles across the D&T subjects to give you a broad understanding of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. You will also have the opportunity to study working with wood, metal and plastics in greater depth. Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to use a variety of tools and machines to make products out of wood, metal and plastic. You will complete the course with a wider understanding of the developments in modern technology. This GCSE is great for developing problem-solving skills and creativity. It also leads on to further/higher study in engineering and product design.
Electronics & Mechanisms:
This GCSE recognises the rapid changes in technology within the last five years. It will develop and build on students’ prior knowledge of technology. Students will learn to design, create and use a variety of materials, electronic and mechanical components, to create interesting and innovative products. Electronics, briefly introduced in Year 9, will be expanded further to gain an understanding of what happens within a circuit and how these are combined to create more complex circuits. Students will develop their programming abilities and use these to experiment with micro-controller circuits, creating their own product to take away. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to experiment with practical projects, designing and making, programming, using 3d computer aided design and 3d printing, circuit simulation and modelling of mechanical systems. Students will complete the course with a wider understanding of the developments in modern technology; the course also provides a pathway to further/higher study in engineering, product design, computing and interfacing, and apprenticeships.
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition (Eduqas)
This GCSE equips learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It encourages learners to cook, enables them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition and allows them to acquire knowledge in order to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life. The focus is still heavily on practical skills but there is now a greater depth of nutrition and also a scientific link to ensure students understand the underlying principles of the cooking process. This combination leaves us with a syllabus that will prepare students well for life in the future, catering as a career and also the ability to step into food science and product development.
It will raise student awareness of:
- The value of food and its provenance.
- The ever-increasing job opportunities.
- The skills required when cooking on a personal and professional level.
- Increase their knowledge of food hygiene and its importance.
- Interpersonal and life skills, communication, team building and leadership.
Student success is often celebrated across the department. To keep up with what is happening, please follow us on Twitter @TheKingsDandT
KS5
A level Design & Technology: Product Design (AQA)
Our AQA A level Product Design course enables students to progress further. Many of our students go on university to study courses such as engineering, interior design and architecture. We are one of the few schools to offer this course and often recruit students from other schools. Our classes are small and allow us to work one-to-one with students and personalise their learning through a mixture of theory lessons and design and make challenges. In addition to the four hours per week spent in lessons, students are expected to spend a further four hours per week learning the content and honing their practical skills in and out of the workshops.This popular new A level allows students to learn about the subject in increased depth whilst designing and making a client-focussed product of their own choice.
Students develop their knowledge of:
- 3D design
- Multi materials
- The iterative design process
- Sustainability and environmental responsibility
Student success is often celebrated across the department. To keep up with what is happening, please follow us on Twitter @TheKingsDandT
Parental support
There are many ways that parents can offer support at home. Please involve your children in planning, preparing and cooking meals and, of course, washing up! Not all homes have parents with creative jobs/hobbies or access to workshop tools but, prompting conversations about where materials and ingredients are sourced, how products are made, sustainability, cost, how products can be maintained and repaired would be useful. Get them to help you if you are repairing anything. Involve them in discussions when choosing products e.g. furniture, room layouts, decorating etc. All of this enables them to develop a critical appreciation of the impact of other peoples' designs.
GCSE Art Textiles Specification
Super-curricular opportunities
House competitions throughout the year e.g.
- Materials - House Clocks competition in the autumn term;
- Textiles - House bunting competition in the spring term;
- Food - House Bake-Off in the Summer Term.
National Young Engineers Lego Robotics competition (2022 Finalists).