“Creativity is intelligence having fun” Albert Einstein
‘Fit for Life’ through Design and Technology
The study of Design and technology is inspiring, fascinating and practical. It ranges from high fashion to innovative design. It equips students with life skills and ranges from traditional drawing to making an artificial foot for a bird using the 3D printer. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. We encourage our students to take risks and be able to participate in a rapidly changing technological world.
Skills and Knowledge
At Key Stage 3, the Design and Technology curriculum is designed to allow pupils to develop their D&T technological capability through combining their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding to design and make a variety of products. In Year 7, students are taught the foundations of skills in each subject; the working characteristics of all materials from Cotton to Pine via acrylic and flour. Making a phone stand, a beanie toy, bread and a sweet dispenser to name a few. In Year 8, students develop their working knowledge of materials by further consideration of the end user; investigating food around the world and the implications of wind turbine design. They expand their computer design skills with the use of Photoshop and their fabric construction knowledge by making felt. In Year 9 students delve further into all four areas and gain a more in depth understanding. Food students start to look at the larger hospitality industry and the various job roles in the kitchen brigade. In Graphics, students look at concept design and design for a specific user. In Textiles students are encouraged to take their designs further looking at the work of other artists and design a new trainer for Nike ID. Ergonomics are developed in Resistant Materials and applied to several different products.
At KS4, there are a range of subjects taught in the Design and Technology department. Every subject aims to improve students’ understanding of the significance of Technology to the economy and the quality of life. GCSE D&T builds on the skills developed in KS3 and pushes students to be innovative thinkers specialising in Textiles or Graphics. GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition nurtures the future Heston Blumenthal’s; looking at the science behind the cooking. Hospitality and Catering students investigate the whole industry and what makes a menu succeed. Engineering design students look in detail at products and how they can be improved.
Communication and Community
Communication in Design and Technology is absolutely vital; whether it is verbal or graphical communication, this skill is essential to succeed. Each area of the D&T curriculum arms students with the skills to improve their own quality of life and that of others. Technology enables students to understand how to think creatively in order to improve the world; combining their knowledge with understanding of aesthetics and function. It helps pupils to become discriminating and informed users of products, and to contribute to their home life and the community. Students learn to become autonomous and creative problem solvers both as individuals and in working with others. Resilience is absolutely vital along with an understanding that initial failure makes a far more successful end product. Students learn to recognise needs, wants and opportunities and respond to these by producing a range of ideas and products which they can critically reflect on and evaluate from a variety of perspectives, therefore becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.