DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
» The Design & TechnologyTeam
» Curriculum Intent
» Qualifications
The Design & Technology Team
Curriculum Leader
Miss C Whooley - cwhooley@theacademy.me
Teachers of Design & Technology
- Mr D Anandavasagar
- Miss C Blidgen
- Mrs M Horn
Teachers of Health & Social Care
- Mrs A Olariu
- Mrs P Sharma
Curriculum intent
COGNITION CURRICULUM
Design and Technology is a practical and valuable subject. It enables pupils to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of themselves and their community. It teaches pupils how to take risks and so become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable.
Teaching in the department seeks to:
- Create practical and theoretical learning experiences that promote success and raise attainment building a foundation of skill and knowledge through the repetition of key concepts - Recall
- Establish an interactive dialogue with students at a challenging pace - Reciprocation and Resilience
- Introduce real scenarios and design issues that are meaningful to students - Resourcefulness
- Motivate students through design tasks in which students take ownership of their work and own learning - Resourcefulness
- Value and celebrate students’ creative and innovative contributions, encouraging openness to ideas and critical reflection - Reflection
- Allow students to work collaboratively in groups, sharing ideas - Reciprocation
- Explore with students the diversity of the application of design and technology in different cultures and the past - Reflection
CULTURE CURRICULUM
Reading – we encourage students to read online articles and publications both in lessons and as homework or extension tasks. These primarily relate to current developments in technology, materials, manufacture and sustainability. Key Stage 4 students are signposted to extended reading material based around their material area of study.
As part of our extra-curricular provision we offer a number of opportunities for students to take part in tournaments, competitions, events and trips. The department is building links with local businesses and industry in order for students to gain valuable work experience, knowledge from visitors and guest speakers, specialist practical techniques and future study/career options such as apprenticeships.
We offer enrichment opportunities for students by delivering a number of extended school activities such as Cooking Healthy Meals, Computer Aided Design, Textiles and Woodcraft. At Key Stage 3 we give students the opportunity to be part of STEM workshops that are delivered by external providers in school or remotely.
Students develop their character by learning about the positive and negative impacts of technology and industry on the modern world and the environment enabling them to make better choices when it comes to living more sustainably. Additionally, the curriculum provides excellent opportunities for pupils to develop and apply value judgements of an aesthetic, economic, moral, social, and technical nature both in their own designing and when evaluating the work of others.
CORE CURRICULUM
The Design Technology Department offers a wide range of subject disciplines to students, taught by specialist staff. The department follows a strong STEM agenda closely linked to Science and Mathematics.
All students study Design and Technology during Key Stage 3 and it is then taken as an option in Key Stage 4.
In Years 7 and 8 students are taught Food Technology, Textiles, Product Design and STEM.
In years 9, 10 and 11 we offer AQA GCSE Design Technology, NCFE Level1/2 Technical Award in Engineering and WJEC Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering.
QUALIFICATIONS
GCSE Design & Technology (AQA 9-1)
This qualification places greater emphasis on understanding and applying iterative design processes. Students will use their creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.
GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. Pupils will study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth.
NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Engineering
This qualification provides an engaging, robust, broad-based introduction to the engineering sector. It offers breadth and depth of study, incorporating a key core of knowledge with opportunities to acquire a number of practical and technical skills. This knowledge and skill base reflects the current needs of employers and higher and further education professionals. It presents knowledge, skills and understanding in a meaningful career-related context, to allow learners to understand theory and application.
Pupils work through nine units of study which will develop their knowledge and understanding of the different engineering disciplines and how products created within them have developed over time. They will explore the properties, characteristics and selection of different engineering materials as well as the tools, equipment and machines used. Throughout the course pupils will develop the skills needed to be able to read and understand engineering drawings as well as how to produce their own by hand and by using computer-aided design (CAD). They will investigate how the application of science and mathematics is linked to engineering and understand the units of measure and equations used.
WJEC Level1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering
This qualification has been designed to support pupils in schools who want to learn about this vocational sector and the potential it can offer them for their careers or further study. Pupils have the opportunity to develop a range of specialist and general skills that would support their progression to employment. The course comprises of two units: The Hospitality and Catering Industry and Hospitality and Catering in Action.
Pupils will develop knowledge and understanding related to a range of hospitality and catering providers; how they operate and what they have to take into account to be successful. There is the opportunity to learn about issues related to nutrition and food safety and how they affect successful hospitality and catering operations. In this qualification, pupils will also have the opportunity to develop some food preparation and cooking skills as well as transferable skills of problem solving, organisation and time management, planning and communication.