Design and Technology

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

Steve Jobs

At Churchdown school We provide a high-quality Design and Technology education that gives students opportunities to create, innovate, design, make and evaluate a variety of high quality products that are fit for purpose.

Students are given opportunities to work on the technical skills and craftsmanship to execute practical tasks in all areas of Technology including CAD CAM, thereby developing confidence to increase their skills, knowledge and competence in using materials, machinery, techniques and processes in a variety of specialist areas including Food and nutrition, Textiles, Graphics and Multi materials.

Students should know about good design, everyday products and use correct technical terminology with Design & Technology literacy. To support this, they will investigate and analyse the rich history of design and technological innovation and the work of others, including iconic designs, to inform their own work. They will be shown developments in design and technology and the responsibilities of designers, including environmental responsibilities. They will develop their written and mathematical skills in a subject specific format to help support their ability to think critically and analyse information.

There are many different progression routes for Design and Technology students, such as apprenticeships with Renishaw and Dowty, university courses in Design and Technology education, Architecture, Manufacturing, Hospitality and catering, progression onto courses such as Fashion and Textiles, Carpentry or Engineering.

Students progress from Churchdown school as creative, hardworking skilled individuals who are truly prepared for the modern world.

Subject: Design and Technology

Jump to Year Group:

• Year 7
• Year 8
• Year 9

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Welcome to Design and Technology

We, as a Design Technology department aim to develop all pupils designing and making skills to the highest standards.  We want every pupil to walk out of the department with something that they have made and are proud of.

As a department we will aim for pupils to become independent learners.   This will be done through the fostering of a desire to design products and improve themselves.

This is also done through:

Pupils

• Pupils acquire a working vocabulary relevant to the subject.
• To form and share their opinions of technological issues.
• To develop interest in and awareness of design and technology issues, both past and present.
• To develop manipulative skills relevant to designing and making product.
• To experience and work with a wide range of materials and technological equipment.
• To develop good health and safety habits and attitudes
• To develop the ability to select research and organise information.
• To work independently and as a member of a team.
• To gain an appreciation of equipment availability and sharing.
• To gain an understanding of how peer assessment can help improve their work.

KS3 Introduction & Project Overview

Key Stage 3 Design and Technology is an opportunity for all pupils to experience the challenge, creativity and satisfaction of designing and making a product that meets a real need or solves a difficult problem.

Good product design is all around us, in the clothes we wear, the items we use in our daily lives and the food that we eat. At Churchdown School Academy we hope to foster a real passion in pupils for Design and Technology, providing a stimulating and supportive environment where individuals can learn to problem solve, design and make exciting products and work collaboratively to ensure mutual success. This will hopefully lead to pupils identifying a material focus which they can subsequently pursue at KS4 and beyond.

During Key Stage 3 pupils are placed in mixed tutor group classes of no more than 20 before completing a series of design and make challenges supported by specialist teachers. All pupils will begin the year focusing on improving their drawing and sketching skills, allowing them to present complex ideas clearly and accurately during the subsequent Design Projects.

After this introduction, all pupils will follow a carousel system to work on projects linked to the following material areas: Food Technology, Resistant Materials, Graphic Products and Textile Design. The projects will develop a range of skills in both product design and manufacture, leading to a high quality and personalised product that meets a specific need or solves an identified problem.

Project Summary

KS3 Year	Food Technology	Resistant Materials	Graphic Products	Textile Design
7	Introduction to Cooking, Hygiene and Safety	“I am Acrylic” Personalised Acrylic Product	Funky animal packaging design	Pencil case Design
8	Multicultural Meals and Nutrition	Gadget holder using CAD & CAM	Pop-Up Cards & Paper Construction	Cuddly Toy door stop
9	Party Food and Presentation	Speaker Box and Electronics	Travel Games and 3D Printing	Hoodie Creation and Decoratio

 

KS4 Overview

EDEXCEL 1DT0 – Product Design: Specialising in Resistant materials

• During Year 10 you will complete a series of mini projects that will teach you the skills needed to produce a high quality product for your controlled assessment in Year 11. Some of the mini projects that you will complete are: formal drawing and rendering, Smart storage solutions and lighting. You will be taught skills such as isometric, oblique and orthographic drawing, pictorial rendering, the use of CAD and design software, wood construction, use of materials and manufacture including CNC and 3D printing.
• Year 11 is Controlled Assessment based. From day one in Year 11 you will work on your design and make assignment. The exam board set briefs for you to design too and you will be guided through these by your teacher with the expectation of utilising the skills you learnt during Year 10 as independently as possible. You will also have dedicated theory lessons that will impart the knowledge you need to be successful in the exam. These will be tested regularly as you work through past papers and learn about designers.

Unit 1 is assessed by a written 1 hour 45 minute exam and is worth 50%. This contains two sections:

• Section A - 40%: A series of questions about Design and Technology in the 21^st Century
• Section B - 60%: A series of question based on the specialist area of technology being studied

Unit 2 is a Controlled Assessment worth 50% - A Design and Make project based on a context/theme set by the exam board.

EDEXCEL 1DT0 – Product Design: Specialising in Graphic Products

• During Year 10 you will complete a series of mini projects that will teach you the skills needed to produce a high quality product for your controlled assessment in Year 11. Some of the mini projects that you will complete are: formal drawing and rendering, packaging and corporate identity. You will be taught skills such as isometric, oblique and orthographic drawing, pictorial rendering, the use of CAD and design software, colour and font theory, CNC production in plastic and 3D printing.
• Year 11 is Controlled Assessment based. From day one in Year 11 you will work on your design and make assignment. The exam board set briefs for you to design too and you will be guided through these by your teacher with the expectation of utilising the skills you learnt during Year 10 as independently as possible. You will also have dedicated theory lessons that will impart the knowledge you need to be successful in the exam. These will be tested regularly as you work through past papers and learn about designers.

Unit 1 is assessed by a written 1 hour 45 minute exam and is worth 50%. This contains two sections:

• Section A - 40%: A series of questions about Design and Technology in the 21^st Century
• Section B - 60%: A series of question based on the specialist area of technology being studied

Unit 2 is a Controlled Assessment worth 50% - A Design and Make project based on a context/theme set by the exam board.

EDEXCEL 1DT0– Product Design:  Specialising in Textiles

During Year 10 you will complete a series of mini projects that will teach you the skills needed to produce a high quality product for your controlled assessment in Year 11. Some of the mini projects that you will complete are:  formal drawing and rendering, Shorts or Skirt learning skills such as:  Cutting, patterns, sewing by hand and machine.  Dress or Top learning skills such as:  Collars, gathering/pleating, hems & seams, interfacing & setting in sleeves.  Decorative techniques including skills such as: Tie Die, screen printing, embroidery & applique.  You will also get the chance to use innovative technologies such as wearable technology products, CNC production and 3D printing.  

Year 11 is Controlled Assessment based. From day one in Year 11 you will work on your design and make assignment. The exam board set briefs for you to design too and you will be guided through these by your teacher with the expectation of utilising the skills you learnt during Year 10 as independently as possible. You will also have dedicated theory lessons that will impart the knowledge you need to be successful in the exam. These will be tested regularly as you work through past papers and learn about designers.

Unit 1 is assessed by a written 1 hour 45 minute exam and is worth 50%. This contains two sections:

• Section A - 40%: A series of questions about Design and Technology in the 21^st Century
• Section B - 60%: A series of question based on the specialist area of technology being studied

AQA– Food Preparation and Nutrition

Nutrition, Diet and Health Throughout Life – throughout the Food and Nutrition course there is a big focus on key nutrients required by each dietary category, ranging from toddlers to the elderly to diabetics and those with allergies and intolerances. Students learn to develop a range of dishes linked to individual dietary requirements and containing key nutrients to ensure a healthy

Factors Affecting Consumer Choice – through selecting healthy and nutritious meals students are taught to consider many different factors. Students identify why a range of different choices are made linking to religion, family incomes and ethics.

Nutritional, Physical, Chemical and Sensory Properties of Foods in Storage, Preparation and Cooking – while developing and exploring a range of everyday dishes students learn to use their senses as a key evaluation and development tool. Students are taught to base cooking skills, techniques and outcomes on the taste, smell, texture and appearance of the dish.

Food Hygiene and Safety – an extremely important part of food practices within the home, classroom and industry. Students are expected to follow key rules and work to a high standard in a safe environment and to the highest hygiene controls.

Unit 1:  Exam: 50% of total marks:1 hour 45 minute written paper with two sections:

• Section A: Multiple choice questions based on knowledge taught
• Section B: Structured, short and extended response questions on food preparation and nutrition

Unit 2:  Controlled Assessment: 50% of the total marks:  20 hour Controlled Assessment task set by exam board:

• Assessment 1: The Food Investigation Assessment: A scientific food investigation which will assess the learner's knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to scientific principles underlying the preparation and cooking of food
• Assessment 2: The Food Preparation Assessment: Prepare, cook and present a menu which assesses the learner’s knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking and presentation of food

KS5 Overview

Edexcel: Product Design

Product Design is a very creative subject and allows students who study it to access higher level thinking skills during creative activities.  The Media will lead us to believe that there is not enough production in this country, but we are at the forefront of cutting edge design, from Sir John Ive at Apple to James Dyson.  British designers are sort after the world over, it says a lot that most design offices have English as their first language, wherever they are.

Design at AS level develops knowledge and use of the Design process through a wide variety of approaches to the subject.  These range from short product analysis assignments, to intensive design sessions, and through to the more traditional design and make assignments.

Formal assessment during AS is through two areas:

Formal Exam

Design and Make Assignment:  Redesign and improve a product of the pupil’s choice.  This is a design and make assignment, similar to the GCSE coursework but making the product for a client to act like a real designer.

Formal Assessment during A2 is through two areas:

Formal Exam

Design and Make Assignment: Pupils will design and make a product for a client, acting like true designers they have to design for a market, customers and meet the requirements of the client.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Get Ahead Sessions:

The department is open for any student to ‘Get Ahead’ in their project work, every day of the week.  There is supervision and specialist teachers on hand to support during Break time and Lunch time every day.  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday specialist teachers are on hand afterschool between 3:05 – 5:00 to get ahead on projects, but these sessions are more geared to the GCSE students completing Controlled Assessment

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

At Churchdown School Academy pupils can participate in a varied and exciting range of STEM opportunities offered through the collaboration of the Maths, Science and Design Technology Departments. With the current shortfall in engineers nationally, the many cutting-edge companies based with a few miles of Churchdown School Academy and the increasing range of internal and external projects, workshops and events on offer there has never been a better time to get involved.

School Clubs

The Design & Technology department offers many ways that budding engineers can experience the thrill and satisfaction of being involved in STEM projects. We offer a series of clubs internally, ranging from modern and smart textile design to computer modelling using industry advanced software such as Autodesk Inventor.

STEM Events and Workshops

Throughout the year pupils can participate in a range of different company sponsored events and challenges, including: the Flying Start Challenge run by SAFRAN to design and launch a handheld glider; GirlsGetSET organised by GE Aviation to encourage more women into engineering and a regular design and build challenge supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Formula 1 Student Competition

Finally, pupils can apply to become the next Lewis Hamilton and join Churchdown School Academy’s very successful Formula 1 Student team. Having shot to the top within only two years, this team brings together many skills and talents to design and build an air launched F1 car while developing a unique brand identity, recruiting company sponsorship and creating an eye-catching and informative pit display and visual presentation.

Next steps or where the subject leads

Resistant Materials and Graphic Products:

Resistant Materials is a very creative and innovative subject area.  Students who study this are seen as real problem solvers and innovative designers.  Studying an area like this is the first step into a design-based career, be it in Engineering or 3D Product Design it is very often seen as the first step towards an Engineering apprenticeship.  It is also a very useful GCSE to have as you can show the work you produce at interviews.

Food Preparation and nutrition:

Food and Nutrition is a practical subject that can be very creative.  It is all about a healthy lifestyle, making food for a healthy lifestyle and learning about the catering industry.  This subject would be very useful to study if you are interested in a career in the catering industry OR just as useful if you are interested in a career where you need to know about a balanced and nutritious diet, such as sports.

Textiles:

Food and Nutrition is a practical subject that can be very creative.  It is all about a healthy lifestyle, making food for a healthy lifestyle and learning about the catering industry.  This subject would be very useful to study if you are interested in a career in the catering industry OR just as useful if you are interested in a career where you need to know about a balanced and nutritious diet, such as sports.

Useful Links

• www.WJEC.com
• https://www.aqa.org.uk
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/
• http://www.technologystudent.com/
• http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Main_Page