Head of Department - Marcus Villiers
Introduction
Since September 2003 we have been a Specialist School in the area of Technology. This means that every student up to the end of KS4 takes a Technology subject.
The Technology Department consists of six Resistant Material/Graphics specialists, four Food/Textile specialists, one Textiles specialist, two full time Workshop Technicians and a Food/Textiles Technician. All the Department teaching staff are responsible for curriculum delivery at both Key Stages 3 and 4.
New facilities in Food, Graphics and Textiles at the Upper Site greatly enhanced our provision.
Outside the normal curriculum the Department offers the opportunity to work in lunchtime clubs both on the Upper and Lower sites.
Department News - 2007 - 08
Under Construction
Key Stage 3 - Years 7, 8 and 9
How many lessons do pupils have per week? . Each group is timetabled for 2 x 60 minute lessons per week, as single periods.
How are pupils grouped? Mixed ability groups.
What do pupils learn? At Key Stage 3 all pupils follow a foundation course of study in the areas of Resistant Materials, Food and Textiles in specialist facilities. The Lower Site specialist rooms for Food and Textiles are modern and well equipped; there is a second computer room, on the Lower Site adjacent to the Technology area.
Key Stage 4 - Years 10 and 11
At Key Stage 4 the Department offers a range of Technology courses. All pupils follow full courses in one of the following :
Design and Technology : Food Technology AQA
Design and Technology : Graphics Products Technology AQA
Design and Technology : Resistant Materials Technology AQA
Design and Technology: Systems and Control AQA
Design and Technology : Textiles Technology AQA
Each Option in Years 10 and 11 is allocated 3 x 60 minute lessons per week.
Design & Technology - Food Technology
What will I learn?
This course follows on directly from KS3 Food Technology. You will learn more about:-
- The role of the Food Technologist in designing foods.
- Industrial preparation and manufacture of food.
- Design Skills
- The nutritional value of food and how foods are used in the body.
- Diets for people with special needs.
- How to carry out a range of practical skills, and how to cook a wide variety of different savoury and sweet dishes.
- Food presentation - how to make food look appetising and attractive.
- Food preservation - how to make foods keep for longer.
- Health and hygiene.
What is the structure of the course?
At present the following units are taught in Year 10:-
- Food as a material
- Nutrition
- Special Diets
- Mock Coursework
- Business and Industrial practice
In Year 11, students carry out the following:-
- Experimental work
- GCSE Coursework
- Preparation paper for the exam
This course is taught by a variety of methods - discussions, videos, practical skills lessons and experimental work, coursework tasks. Students usually have one practical lesson per week for which they are required to bring ingredients.
How will I be assessed?
All Design and Technology courses are:
60% coursework and 40% examination.
At the end of Year 10 you will be given a choice of titles for your GCSE Design and Make assignment.
Throughout Year 11 you will spend approximately 40 hours on this piece of coursework, which will count for 60% of your final GCSE grade. Before the exam you will be given a preparation paper, which informs you about the theme of the exam.
What skills and interests do I need to have?
If you want to enjoy this course, it is vital that you have a real interest in cooking and preparing food.
You will have enjoyed Food Technology in Years 7,8 and 9 and you will enjoy cooking at home. You will have an interest in Nutrition and will be keen to develop your knowledge of food materials in order to design original products. You must be prepared to bring ingredients for practical lessons.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
Successful completion in this subject at Level 2 (GCSE C or above) will allow you to have a range of options in 2010. If you wish to progress to a Level 3 (AS/A2, BTEC) in this subject, you are required to have a minimum of a C grade at Level 2 (GCSE).
GCSE Design & Technology: Food Technology may be required by a number of training programs, by employers or as an entry requirement for other subjects at advanced level.
Future career opportunities could be as a Catering Manager, Packaging Designer, Chef, Events Organiser, Dietician or a Nutritionist.
Design & Technology - Graphic Products
What will I learn?
This course follows on from the graphics elements of projects undertaken in KS3 Technology.
You will learn more about:
- What graphic products are and their role in the modern world
- How to use sketching, colour rendering and technical drawing techniques to present your ideas
- The range of materials available to designers of graphic products
- Using a range of practical making skills
- Designing logos and corporate identity
- The use of advertising, brochures, posters etc.
- Designing packaging and displays
- How graphic products are produced in industry including the use of ICT
- How to evaluate the success of products
- Designing lettering and the use of fonts, DTP etc.
What is the structure of the course?
The department has a range of projects to choose from in Year 10, including:
- Personal logo project
- Restaurant 'flyers', menus
- Cosmetics containers and packaging
- Confectionery Packaging
- Trainers styling and graphics
- Point-of-Sales Displays
- Card mechanisms project
- CD covers
You will usually do three from the above list of projects.
In Year 11, students carry out the following:
- GCSE coursework project
- Preparation for the examination
This course is taught using a variety of methods including discussions, research and lessons in practical skills. All projects are intended to provide the full range of designing and making skills required by the specification.
How will I be assessed?
All design and technology courses are:
60% coursework and 40% examination
Throughout Year 11 you will spend approximately 40 hours on your coursework project.
What skills and interests do I need to have?
To make the most of this course, you should enjoy drawing and using a range of graphic media. You should enjoy learning to use a range of ICT software and hardware, including the digital camera and scanner. You will have an interest in creatively and imaginatively designing modern graphic products.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
Successful completion in this subject at Level 2 (GCSE C or above) will allow you to have a range of options in 2010. If you wish to progress to a Level 3 (AS/A2, BTEC) in this subject, you are required to have a minimum of a C grade at Level 2 (GCSE).
GCSE Design and Technology: Graphic Products may be required in a number of training programs, by employers or as an entry requirement for other subjects at advanced level.
Future career opportunities could be as a Graphic Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Packaging Designer, Software Designer or Advertising Executive.
Design & Technology - Product Design
What will I learn?
This course follows on from the product design and make elements of projects undertaken in KS3 Technology.
You will learn more about:
- Designing desirable and stylish products.
- Using graphic and CAD software to aid your designing and making.
- Different types of materials including woods, metals, plastics and smart materials.
- About the different types of woods, their uses, how to shape them, join them and how to make informed decisions for particular uses.
- The different kinds of plastics and smart materials and how they influence a products design.
- Environmental issues affecting the use of materials including recycling and conservation.
- Using a range of skills in product analysis, designing and making.
- How objects are produced in industry using ICT and CAD/CAM
- How to evaluate the success of products.
What is the structure of the course?
- In Year 10 students will follow a series of focused practical tasks that will develop their experience at manipulating different materials by hand and using CAD/CAM and enable them to gain the associated knowledge in preparation for their main coursework in Year 11. They will undertake a variety of projects including designing and making a mobile phone protective case, a CAD designed mp3 player and a USB powered lamp. During the last half term in Year 10 they will begin their final coursework project.
- In Year 11, students carry out the following:
Complete the design work for their GCSE coursework project - (Currently a new generation board game). Make their designed project and then test it. Preparation for the examination This course is taught using a variety of methods including discussions, research and lessons in both theory and practical skills. All projects are intended to provide the full range of designing and making skills required by the examination board specification.
How will I be assessed?
All design and technology courses are:
60% coursework and 40% examination
Throughout Year 11 you will spend approximately 40 hours on your coursework project.
What skills and interests do I need to have?
To make the most of this course, you should enjoy producing design drawings and using a range of workshop equipment. You should also enjoy learning to use a range of ICT software and hardware. You should have an interest in creatively and imaginatively designing modern everyday desirable products.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
Successful completion in this subject at Level 2 (GCSE C or above) will allow you to have a range of options in 2010. If you wish to progress to a Level 3 (AS/A2, BTEC) in this subject, you are required to have a minimum of a C grade at Level 2 (GCSE).
GCSE Design and Technology: Product Design may be required in a number of training programs, by employers or as an entry requirement for other subjects at advanced level.
Future career opportunities could be Furniture Design, Product Design, Architecture, Engineering, Building & Construction or Automotive Design.
Design & Technology - Textiles
What will I learn?
This course follows on directly from KS3 Textiles Technology. You will learn more about:-
- The textiles industry - how fabrics, furnishings and clothing are designed and made in industry.
- Properties of different fibres and fabrics.
- Design skills
- Using and adapting paper patterns
- Hand and machine sewing skills
- Fabric decoration - embroidery, printing, silk painting etc.
What is the structure of the course?
At present the following units are taught in Year 10:-
- Basic sewing skills - Making shorts
- Fibres and fabrics - theory and experimental work
- Fabric decoration - practical project using a range of techniques
- Mock Coursework - carrying out a Design and Make assignment following all the criteria for
Year 11 coursework.
- Business and Industrial practice - theory unit
In Year 11, students carry out the following:-
GCSE Coursework - choice of titles - 40% designing, 60% making
Preparation paper for the exam
This course is taught by a variety of methods - discussions, videos, practical skills lessons and experimental work and coursework tasks.
How will I be assessed?
All Design and Technology courses are:
60% coursework and 40% examination.
At the end of Year 10 you will be given a choice of titles for your GCSE Design and Make assignment.
Throughout Year 11 you will spend approximately 40 hours on this piece of coursework, which will count for 60% of your final GCSE grade.
Before the exam you will be given a preparation paper, which informs you about the theme of the exam.
What skills and interests do I need to have?
If you want to enjoy this course, it is vital that you have a real interest in textiles - either fashion, dressmaking or decorative textiles.
You should have enjoyed the Textiles lessons at KS3 level.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
Successful completion in this subject at Level 2 (GCSE C or above) will allow you to have a range of options in 2010. If you wish to progress to a Level 3 (AS/A2, BTEC) in this subject, you are required to have a minimum of a C grade at Level 2 (GCSE).
GCSE Design & Technology: Textiles Technology may be required by a number of training programs, by employers or as an entry requirement for other subjects at advanced level.
Future career opportunities could be in Fashion Design, Costume Design, Fabric Design, Retail Buying, Fashion Journalism, Interior Design and Merchandising.
Key Stage 5 - Years 12 and 13
Pupils can opt for AS and A2 Design and Technology - 3D Design and AS and A2 Design and Technology - Food Technology in KS5.
AS and A2 Design and Technology - 3D Design
What will I learn?
AS outline: At AS level candidates should develop an understanding of a broad range of materials, with emphasis on the life cycle of products, manufacture and final disposal. This specification also considers the broader issues for the designer including the environmental sustainability of products and consumer safety.
A2 outline: At A2, the specification offers candidates the opportunity to further develop the knowledge and practical skills from AS. Candidates will continue to develop a body of coursework alongside an understanding of the processes and procedures of commercial production and manufacture.
What is the structure of the course?
The AS specification has 2 units:
Unit 1:
Topic list
- Developing an understanding of the physical and mechanical properties in a broad range of materials and components
- The broader issues for the designer including the environmental sustainability of products and their manufacture
- Methods in which materials and components can be manipulated to manufacture products
- Health and safety issues relevant to working with materials
- Computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM)
- Ergonomics and anthropometrics, inclusive design, and consumer safety
- The life cycle of products including manufacture, use and functional aspects and final disposal.
Unit 2: Coursework
The A2 specification has 2 units:
Unit 3:
Topic list
- Classifying materials and identifying, testing and comparing their application to product manufacture
- The implications of Health and Safety as an element of design activity
- Examination of alternative designs and redesigning existing products
- Use of natural resources, materials utilisation, conservation, waste disposal/management, pollution, recycling
- Appreciation and understanding of the use of CAM for industrial production
- Moral, economic, social and environmental responsibilities of the designer
- Planning production procedures and methods.
Unit 4: Coursework
How will I be assessed?
Unit 1: Written Exam: 2 hours 50% of total AS / 25% of total A Level marks
Unit 2: Coursework: Approx 50 hours 50% of total AS / 25% of total A Level marks
Unit 3: Written Exam: 2 hours 25% of total A Level marks
Unit 4: Coursework: Approx 60 hours 25% of total A Level marks
What do I need to know or do before being able to take the course?
Knowledge of the design process and ICT skills are essential, as are good practical skills. Students need the ability to have an open mind about designing a range of varied products from clocks to furniture, interiors to exhibition stands. Above all, students need commitment and enthusiasm for the subject.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
As with all Level 3 subjects, successful completion of this course will enable progression onto both further and higher education, a Modern Apprenticeship or employment in a range of industries. The employment market is looking for people with visual communication skills and product design with its graphical and 3D skills at level 3 and beyond. This will certainly add value to your applications. Advertising, architecture, web site design, product development, stage, exhibition, interior design, journalism and other media careers are just a few employment areas where Product Design will be a worth while qualification.
AS and A2 Design and Technology - Food Technology
What will I learn?
- Candidates will have the opportunity to study Nutrition and design and make in the human context.
- Candidates will acquire an in-depth knowledge of food science
- Candidates will be given the opportunity to develop and solve problems relating to Food designing and making.
- In addition, candidates will gain understanding of industrial and commercial practices within the area of Food Technology.
Who is the course for?
The course is aimed at all creative students who have good cooking skills and are interested in designing and working with food components to meet the demands of people in the modern world.
What is the structure of the course?
The course is in two sections, the first section includes knowledge and understanding of Nutrition (Macro & Micro nutrients, measurement of energy and the importance of adequate water intake), Dietary planning (BMI & health promotions), relationship between health and diet, Social factor, Food additives, Environmental factors influencing food choices, Mass Media, Food safety and systems & control.
Section 2 is a written design portfolio (coursework) Candidates may take a single 'design and make'
project or 2 smaller projects or a portfolio of work.
How will I be assessed?
AS UNIT 1 AS UNIT 2
Written Paper
'Materials and Component'
2 hours
(25% of total A level marks)
Coursework
'Design and make project'
Design portfolio
Approx 50 hours
(25% of total A level marks)
A2 UNIT 3 A2 UNIT 4
Written Exams
'Design and Manufacture'
2 hours
25% of total A level
Coursework
Approx 60 hours
25% of total A level
What do I need to know or do before being able to take the course?
Knowledge of the design process and ICT skill are essential. Students should have good cooking skills and should be able to adapt original recipes to suit a wide range of consumers. In addition, students need commitment and enthusiasm for the subject.
What courses or employment could I progress to at the end of my course?
As with all Level 3 subjects, successful completion of this course will enable progression onto both further and higher education. Career prospects in Food Technology are numerous: sales and business developer, Food safety consultant, Food technologist, Food scientist, Dietician, Nutritionist and Professional Chef are just a few employment areas where food technology will be a worth while qualification.
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