Design, Technology and Food
Faculty Lead
The Team
Mr R Lewis, Resistant Materials: Wood, Metal, Plastics; Graphics: Paper and Card
Miss L Mtoka, Resistant Materials
Mr M Smith, Food and Nutrition; Head of Sixth Form
Miss J Cavalla, D&T Technician and Key Stage 3 teacher
Mr D Hayward, D&T Technician
Mrs H Westbury, Food and Nutrition Technician
Curriculum Intent
In the Design and Technology department we aim to inspire our students in a creative and active learning environment. Through the teaching of both subject specific and transferable knowledge this enables students to achieve successful practical outcomes in a wide range of Technology disciplines, also including Food and Textiles.
Our curriculum aims to provide rigorous academic and practical projects taught through a wide range of discreet disciplines, providing different contexts for Designing and Making. Through the knowledge that is taught, students are encouraged to develop ideas, and apply their knowledge to design and manufacture products that solve problems. This is based on the declarative knowledge of materials and design processes. Projects challenge students to consider their own and others' needs, wants and values and enable them to gain an understanding of political, social and environmental factors to work towards informed and enterprising young people. We aim to broaden our student’s minds by promoting the understanding of the impact of these on daily life and the wider world. Design and Technology has a significant role to play in the rapidly changing world where it makes an essential contribution to culture, wealth and well-being of all.
All projects are carefully planned and designed to give students the knowledge required to use the range of machinery and equipment in the department. We have a wide range of specialist CAD/CAM machines including a Laser Cutter, 3D printer, HASS CNC Milling Machine, CNC Router, Versa Camm wide format digital printer as well as two suites of PCs that run Photoshop, 2D DesignV2 and Solidworks 3D.
Key Stage 3
All students study Art, Design and Technology at Key Stage 3.
Year 7:
Students will be introduced to the subject areas through a range of projects, written to develop their knowledge, skills and creativity. These are delivered through rotations to ensure they are taught by subject specialists. The art projects will encompass many of the formal elements such as line, tone, colour, pattern, texture and form. They will research a wide variety of contemporary artists and designers as well as developing ideas. The Technology projects will introduce key skills such as identifying and investigating design possibilities, producing a design brief and specification, generating design ideas, developing design ideas, realising design ideas and analysing & evaluating
Year 8:
The knowledge and skills developed in Year 7 will be revisited and refined and students will produce work which stretches their ability to develop their skills further and experiment with a wider range of materials, techniques and processes. They will evaluate their own and others' work and justify their own opinions whilst generating and developing design ideas.
Year 9:
Students will be taught in discreet areas. This will enable students to undertake more in-depth projects which will facilitate resilience when responding to a theme. The projects will bridge the gap between KS3 and KS4 and be written to reflect the content of the GCSE syllabuses.
Key Stage 4
At KS4, students have the opportunity to choose to study GCSE Design and Technology (specialising in either paper and card, fabric and fibres or wood and metal) and GCSE Food and Nutrition.