Our Design and Technology department constantly evolves, offering an innovative curriculum that fosters creative thinking and skill development. At Key Stage 3, students will have the opportunity to explore subjects like Food & Nutrition, Textile Design, and Engineering on a rotating basis, honing new skills and creativity. Within each area, there will be scope to investigate, design and manufacture products within various contexts, considering different needs, wants and values.
At GCSE level, we offer AQA Food and Nutrition, OCR Textile Design, and NCFE technical awards in Engineering (Level 1 & Level 2 VCerts). The KS4 courses will support students to direct their learning in their chosen specialism to enable them to move forward in their career path.
The design department offers after-school workshops where students can engage in advancing their existing projects or participate in mini-tasks aimed at enhancing their skills across the department. Our practical facilities support students in engineering with the manufacturing process. At the same time, those interested in food can improve their patisserie skills and textile enthusiasts are encouraged to develop their higher-level embellishment techniques.
We realise the importance of enrichment opportunities to enable our students to become confident and capable individuals. We have successfully taken students on trips to Festo, Jaguar Land Rover, the Clothes Show and the De Montfort University End of year degree shows. Additionally, we have seized opportunities to involve artists and designers in online workshops and national awards, engaging our students in valuable interactions.
Programmes of study
Key Stage 3 curriculum overview
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Topic 1: Introduction to textile design Understanding textiles fibres and materials and how artists can influence the making of a textile product | Topic 1: Food and nutrition Working with ingredients and the study of dietary needs and requirements at different stages of life | Topic 1: Icon and identity To develop an understanding of how icons are decorated in textile design. Students will explore developing skills using traditional and modern design applications |
| Topic 2: Basics in food safety and nutrition Learning how to be prepared for food lessons, the basic cutting skills, measuring, and working with ingredients | Topic 2: Pattern and print project Students understand how to research abstract and graffiti artists. Application of different techniques used to generate new creative ideas to develop an outcome | Topic 2: Food and nutrition Students look at food safety for working with meat, the requirements of each nutrient and how to complete an NEA assessment |
| Topic 3: Introduction to engineering Students develop an understanding of the properties of Metals and the knowledge of engineering equipment whilst making a product. | Topic 3: Engineering mechanisms Students develop a working understanding of mechanisms, how they work and how they have impacted our modern world whilst developing CAD skills | Topic 3: Engineering in the workshop Students will learn workshop safety and learn a range of wood materials and joints, tools and machinery to produce a working prototype |
| Topic 4: Extended engineering block Students will understand the application of basic inputs, processes, and outputs and basic engineering sketches whilst creating a small torch |
OCR Textile Design
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
| Term 1: Theme – Aquatic Students will learn the formal elements and understand the materials and processes required to achieve techniques on paper and fabric Students will learn how to collect primary information related to a theme and develop investigations Students will learn how to use textiles machinery and equipment appropriate to the technique used Students will explore sampling of a range of surface decoration embellishment techniques related to the theme Students will develop a range of fashion illustrations and be introduced to pattern making leading to a fashion outcome | Term 1: Unit 1 = 60% of portfolio towards GCSE Students will continue unit 1 portfolio where they will refine their work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques, and processes (A02) Students will then work on recording their ideas and observations (A03) Students will focus on presenting a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates development of the chosen theme (A04) |
| Term 2: Theme – Structures Students will go through the process of collecting research and developing ideas using CAD software and printing processes Students will be introduced to manipulation techniques; final outcome will either be paper based or fabric incorporating techniques learnt | Term 2: Unit 2 = 40% Students will be given paper and themes from exam board in January Students will be completing preparation for the final exam working through the objectives Assessment objective 1: Investigations and research Assessment objective 2: Refining and exploring Assessment objective 3: Recording and experimenting Assessment objective 4: Present personal outcome |
| Term 3: Theme – Environment Begin portfolio unit 1 – Students decide the subtheme Students will develop theme through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources (A01) | Term 3 Students will continue the preparation for their personal response and refine all their individual work for this unit 2 project Assessment: GCSE 10 hour exam |
AQA Food and Nutrition
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
| Topic 1: Fruit and vegetables Students will learn about food processing, vitamins and minerals, cooking methods and sustainability | NEA 1: Practical preparation Students will recap the expectations of NEA1 then complete the assessment based on the information they have learned in year 10. This assessment is worth 15% of their final grade |
| Topic 2: Sugars Students will learn about sugars, additives, writing a time plan and the health risks of a poor diet | Revision for exam: Multiple choice questions Students will revise key material and practice applying it to the section 1 multiple choice questions |
| Topic 3: Proteins including alternative proteins Students will learn about proteins, different dietary need, food poisoning bacteria and food safety | NEA 2: Practical preparation Students will recap the expectations of NEA 2 then complete the assessment based on the information they have learned in year 10. This assessment is worth 35% of their final grade and includes a practical assessment |
| Topic 4: Carbohydrates Students will learn about carbohydrates, gluten formation, sauce making and how to apply their knowledge to exam questions | Revision: Short questions Students will revise key material and practice applying it to a range of short answer 1 – 6 mark questions |
| Topic 5: Mock NEA 2 Students will complete a mock assessment to ensure they are prepared and understand what to expect in year 11 | Revision: Longer answer questions Students will revise key material and practice how to structure and apply it to more detailed 8 and 12 mark questions |
| Topic 6: Eggs Students will learn about the functions of eggs in cooking, fats, raising agents and the requirements for the NEAs | |
| Topic 7: mock nea 1 Students will complete a mock assessment to ensure they are prepared and understand what to expect in year 11 |
NCFE Vcerts Level 1 / Level 2 Engineering
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
| Topic 1: Engineering disciplines Mechanical, electrical, electronic, chemical, aerospace, telecommunications, civil, automotive, software, biomedical | Mock NEA feedback and NEA prep: Research skills Hand drawing CAD drawing Production planning Practical skills development Writing evaluations |
| Topic 2: Metals project Properties and characteristics of metals, health and safety in the workshop, safe and correct use of tools and equipment | Nov Mock Exam Revision: Engineering disciplines Maths and science in engineering Engineering drawing conventions Materials and their properties Tools and Equipment |
| Topic 3: Engineering drawings Lines, scales, isometric Two point perspective Orthographic – first and third angle British Standard BS 8888 | NEA: Non-Examined Assessment (60%) |
| Topic 4: Materials and their properties Wood, ceramics and composites Aesthetics and environmental impacts Properties: chemical, electrical and magnetic, mechanical, optical and thermal Materials testing | Exam Prep and Revision: Revision on all content areas Revision techniques Exam strategies |
| Topic 5: CAD/CAM project with plastics theory 2D and 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) programmes Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) methods Use of CAD/CAM to produce a laser cut outcome | |
| Mock exam preparation: Topic 1: Engineering disciplines Topic 2: Engineering drawings Topic 3: Materials and properties Topic 4: CAD/CAM and plastic theory | |
| Mock synoptic project: Lamp Design brief where students will produce a portfolio of evidence including material research, 2D and 3D drawings, production plans, risk assessment and making diaries of the production process and the practical product |
Staff
Mrs L Chauhan (Curriculum Team Leader D&T) – Teacher of Textiles
Mr T Clark – Teacher of Engineering and ICT
Miss S Leedham – Teacher of Food and Nutrition
Mrs G Troy – Teacher of Design and Engineering