Design Technology Department
| Ms C Atkinson |
Teacher of Design Technology/ |
 |
Introduction
Design Technology transcends many boundaries including those of language, culture and ability, by delivering our intent to ENRICH the lives of our students we teach a varied, hands on experience that inspires them to problem solve, create, develop and make. Design Technology encourages our students imagination through a developmental process, we guide students to create dynamic and innovative works to the highest standard and allow them to confidently access a variety of materials and methods to support their making journey from ideas on a page to a finished, high quality working product or prototype.
Key Stage Three
In KS3 students have a double lesson each week (90 minutes) that has been designed to offer a full curriculum experience enabling students to experience and build skills in research, design, development, making and evaluating using Textiles, Timber, Metal and Electronics. This offer allows students to use specialist equipment and learn skills used in the Design world today, preparing them for further study or building upon skills used in other areas of the curriculum such as time management, project planning and discussion.
Key Stage Four
At KS4 students follow the AQA GCSE Design Technology 8552 syllabus, this course consists of 50% controlled assessment and 50% examination. In Year 10 students undertake teacher led Design projects learning about research, client need, design briefs and specifications, they will also undertake designing and the understand the iterative design process. Students will develop their work and learn to prototype successfully, refining their skill base from KS3 through their project work under specialisms in Textiles, Timber and finally sit a mixed material brief before they start their controlled assessment in the June of Year 10.
In Year 11 the AQA set a series of themes and students choose to focus on one, producing a full portfolio of work and a final product for internal marking before moderation.
Throughout the two-year course students will spend one lesson a week on theory that covers a range of principles within the subject in readiness for the GCSE examination in the Summer of Year 11. These topics include new and emerging technologies, new materials, systems, mechanical devices, materials and their properties, specialist technical principles, ecological and social footprint, scales of production, designing and making principles, the work of others, design communication and prototyping.
More information about the Design Technology GCSE in the specification linked here:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552
Curriculum Maps
Key Stage Three
Click here to download and view the Design Technology KS3 curriculum map
Key Stage Four
... Coming soon ...
Useful Links
BBC Bitesize - Design Technology - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zfr9wmn
Instructables website - https://www.instructables.com
Technology Student website - https://technologystudent.com
The Design Museum website - https://designmuseum.org/
