Design and Technology Curriculum

Year 7

In DT Year 7 students are introduced to Design and Technology by experiencing a range of activities in the areas of Product Design. Pupils are introduced to essential health and safety working procedures and start to develop key skills in research, design, making and evaluation. They will be introduced to the skills needed to work safely in the workshop. Alongside teaching practical skills, students are taught to correctly identify a range of machines and equipment problem solving using mathematics. Students focus on the working characteristics of a number of materials and are introduced to ACCESSFMM and the design process. They develop knowledge of simple electronic circuits. They will look at manufacturing techniques such as vacuum forming, laser cutting and traditional wood working skills.  They will complete two projects throughout Y7, a complicated steady hand game and a puzzle box.

Year 8

In DT pupils will build upon their Year 7 work with more ambitious projects. A more in-depth response will be needed in research and design. A wider range of materials, equipment and processes will be experienced as well as continued problem solving using mathematics. They will look at the needs of clients and develop their own design brief for a project. They will use a range of research techniques to help with the design of their product. They will develop their design skills through drawing, modelling and use of CAD. They will complete two projects in Y8 a Nature Project and a Lighting Project.

Year 9

In DT pupils build upon their Year 8 work. Students learn to use an even wider range of workshop machinery and hand tools whilst working with plastic, metal and wood. A basic knowledge of mechanisms, materials, safety, tools and structures is taught and the development of technical vocabulary is encouraged. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAM) is used throughout the course. Problem solving using mathematics is fundamental in design and technology and students are expected to develop these skills independently on their projects. They will make two projects in Y9 an Automata and a Passive Amplifier.

Year 10

In DT Students start their GCSE following the AQA 8552 specification.

They will work on three projects.

Jewellery Box Project

Desk Tidy Project

Desk fan Project

Each project will enable students to develop skill required to be able to complete their NEA Project in Y11.

Alongside Project work the students will develop their Core and Specialist knowledge in areas of Wood’s, Metals and Plastics.

Year 11

Students will continue to develop their core and specialist knowledge but also complete their final NEA project, which is 50% of their final grade.

The project will follow the AQA 8552 specification. Students select an area of focus from three design contexts set by the exam board. The project will be completed by the Easter of Y11.

Year 12

Students will follow the AQA specification for A Level Product Design 7552.

They will study;

• Core technical principles.

• Core designing and making principles

• Additional specialist knowledge.

Imaginative practical work is at the heart of this subject, students will develop intellectual curiosity about the design and manufacture of products. They will explore, design, create and evaluate innovative solutions in response to realistic design contexts.  Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the core technical, designing and making principles for Product Design.

They will complete 4 mini projects.

Turner Centre Project

Fan or Radio design following the Memphis design movement.

Aesthetic concept model

Metal project - Architecture influenced design

Year 13

Students complete their final Project NEA (50% of marks) (40 sheets of A3)

Practical application of core technical principles, core designing and making principles and additional specialist knowledge in form of an extended project where the student has to investigate and generate his or her own product for a client.

This is completed by the Easter of Y13.