Design Technology
Years 7-9
During Years 7-9 students are taught on a rotation basis, experiencing each of the three disciplines in technology over the course of the year. The following topics are taught.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|
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Food and Nutrition: An introduction to the Food Room and Health and Safety. Students will then complete a range of food practical lessons with on a focus on cooking healthy and nutritious meals. Topics include- The Eatwell plate, Food science experiments and Nutritional analysis.
Product Design: An introduction to Health and Safety in the PD workshop. Students will undertake a design and make creating a wooden joinery storage box with a laser engraved lid. Topics include – measuring and marking out, using the workshop tools including the coping saw, pillar drill and belt sander, using CAD/CAM
Textiles: Introduction to textile products, health and safety, geometry in design, design research skills, colour theory, how to develop design ideas, composition, creating a template, stencilling, stippling, introduction to hand embroidery, sewing on buttons and beads, understanding the sewing machine, sewing machine skills, seams, hems, straight stitch and zig-zag stitch, textile keywords and definitions, natural and synthetic fibres, environmental issues and sustainability, evaluation. |
Food and Nutrition: Students will cover topics linked to Food Provenance along with recapping on Food hygiene. Students will complete a range of more skilful food practical lessons including looking at vegetarian and more sustainable recipes and ingredients. Topic include energy sources, food miles and organic produce and seasonal food and ingredients
Product Design: Students explore the process of casting materials using moulds created on the laser cutter. The students will create their own designs and base them on selected designers and design movements. They will create their own resin coaster and pewter key ring.
Topics include – designing and drawing in 2D/3D, precision CAD/CAM and metal/plastic finishing techniques and processes including using a multi tool, wet and dry paper, hacksaw and file
Textiles: Introduction to Batik, health and safety, historical research and analysis, design research and mood board, digital design skills, Batik wax application and dyeing, design development, introduction to Shibori dyeing, fabric care theory, the impact of fast fashion, Batik and Shibori keywords and definitions, intermediate hand embroidery, adding embellishments, recap of sewing machine skills, construction techniques including seams, double hems, and bagging out, understanding knitted, woven and bonded fabrics, evaluation. |
Food and Nutrition: Exploring diet and food nutrition from different cultures students will create a range of healthy and some indulgent options whilst exploring food from around the world. Students will use more advanced food preparation techniques and consider the needs of people with different dietary requirements. Topics include – Festival and street food, sports nutrition and nutritional and cost analysis
Product Design: To further develop students understanding and skills students undertake a design brief to make a table lamp inspired by biomimicry. The lamp is made from different timbers and features a personalised laser cut panel. Topics include – How biomimicry has inspired designers, engineers and architect, electrical components, 2D and 3D CAD skills and routing/finishing timbers with recapping skills on pillar drill, belt sander and coping saw.
Textiles: Introduction to branding, health and safety, research and analysis of fashion designers, understanding of a target market, logo design, typography, connotations of colour, idea generation, design implementation, intermediate digital design skills, analysis of design ideas, introduction to free machine embroidery, paint and stitch, advanced sewing machine skills, appliquéing using Bondaweb, higher embroidery and embellishment skills, zip insertion, intermediate construction techniques, disciplinary language, fibres and fabrics revision, smear and technical textiles, evaluation. |
GCSE
Product Design
Students studying the subject at GCSE follow the AQA Design Technology specification
During the course the following topics are covered
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
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GCSE DT AQA Exam preparation Unit 1 - New and emerging technologies Mock NEA – Autodesk Fusion tutorials Mock NEA - Modular Desk Organiser. Practical Workshop skills, designing and technical drawing skills, card modelling skills. Unit 2 - Energy generation and storage Unit 3 - Developments in new materials Unit 4 - Systems approach to designing Unit 5 - Mechanical devices Unit 6 - Material categories and properties
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Year 11 term 1 will be spent on the NEA (Non-examined assessment / coursework project). It’s intended to be an iterative process so the learning activities will be directed by the student and will depend on their project. GCSE DT AQA NEA: Section A - Identifying & investigating design possibilities. Students research and analyse in preparation for their ideas. Section B- Producing a design brief & specification. Students learn about the design process and write a brief and design specification. Section C - Generating design ideas. Students develop their drawing, CAD and designing skills. Section D - Developing design ideas. Student complete practical modelling and making of their ideas in the workshop. Section E- Realising design ideas. Students make a final prototype of the final design. Section F- Analysing & evaluating. Students reflect and improve for the next iteration. Further time on Year 10 topics and revision |
For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552
Food Preparation and Nutrition
Students studying the subject at GCSE follow the OCR Food and Nutrition specification
During the course the following topics are covered
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
Section A: Nutrition
Section B: Food (food provenance and food choice)
Section C: Cooking and food preparation
Section D: Skills requirements (preparation and cooking techniques)
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Section A: Nutrition
Section B: Food (food provenance & food choice)
Section C: Cooking and food preparation
Section D: Skills requirements (preparation and cooking techniques)
|
Art Textiles
Students studying the subject at GCSE follow the Edexcel Art Textiles specification
During the course the following topics are covered
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
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The autumn term is an induction term exploring the theme of Natural Forms. Students focus on a theme and learn textile techniques of appliqué, free machine embroidery, and paint and stitch. They learn how to research artists and analyse their techniques. In the spring term students continue the Natural Forms theme, this time exploring the techniques of silk painting, needle felting and wet felting. Further artists and techniques are explored including learning how to layer fabrics for textural and decorative effects, and the use of soluble stabiliser to create lace like fabrics made of stitch and papers. Outcomes can be either fine art or fashion. The theme runs into the summer term and students create a final piece in their practice exams in May. The My World theme starts at the end of the summer term and students have a trip to Brighton to gather material for observational studies. Students carry out mini workshops to explore the techniques of transferring photographs onto fabric, screen printing, and portraiture through stitch. |
Students continue to work on the My World theme in the autumn term and start to select their own chosen artists. They produce textile samples to extend their skills and work on ideas and idea development to prepare for a practice exam in the December term. They have time after the exam to refine their final piece. Typically, in the Spring term students receive an externally set assignment and are allocated a specific amount of class time to explore the theme, select artists to research and techniques they feel they want to explore in greater depth. The final piece they create is produced over a 2-day period and showcases the skills they have learnt during the GCSE course. Again, students can choose between a fine art piece or a fashion outcome. |
For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Art%20and%20Design/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/gcse-art-design-2016-spec.pdf
A Level
Information regarding the A Level follow the AQA Product Design specification (7551). During the course the following topics are covered.
| Year 12 | Year 13 |
|---|---|
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A practical introduction to the workshop using materials, skills and processes students will make their own toolbox, coasters and other quick design and make projects. Health and safety Material properties Mechanical and Physical Material areas studied including properties and applications Manufacturing Processes Ergonomics and Anthropometrics Smart and Modern Materials Health and Safety – safety standards for manufacturing and consumers Standard components Adhesives and fixings Protecting design work and IP Designing for repair and disposal Design enterprise and communication Students will complete an NEA design and make project onside these topics. |
Design methods and processes Design Theory Technological impact on culture Product Life cycle Critical analysis Tools, processes and equipment recap Accuracy in design and manufacture Responsible design National and international standards in Product Design Students will complete an NEA design and make project onside these topics. |
For more detailed information on the course content and assessment please refer to the examination board website.