technology
Aims
To give pupils the opportunity to design and make their own products using a variety of materials, components and equipment.
Pupils consider effective use of time, money and resources and are encouraged to express their creativity in a variety of ways when designing their products.
Courses Offered
In Yr 7 & 8 pupils study Design & Technology in Food, Resistant Materials, Systems and Control and Textiles. In Yr 9 Graphics is added as a further Design and Technology subject. At GCSE level every pupil selects a subject from Textiles, Electronics, Food & Nutrition, Graphics Products and Resistant Materials.
Teaching and Learning
Between Yrs 7 & 9 every pupil is given the opportunity to work with as wide a range of materials as possible. They usually design their own products, starting in Yr 7 with for example, a wooden spatula and a bean bag. Designs become more complex in Yr 8 with steady hand games and pasta sauces and the introduction of manufacturing processes. In Yr 9 more use of ICT is introduced for graphics and stencil cutting in Textiles.
Year 10 is spent studying aspects of the chosen GCSE Syllabus in preparation for the final exam in Year 11 and working in practical situations with the chosen materials to produce high quality products. As the coursework in D & T contibutes 60% of the final mark, most of Yr 11 is spent desgining and making individual products. This requires a great deal of commitment in practical work and the design folder from both the staff and the students.
Resources
We have two Resistant Materials rooms both fully fitted with woodworking machines, a preparation room and a wide variety of hand tools. A computer is available in one room. The electronics room is equally well resourced with equipment for systems and control, 3 computers and a CAM machine for etching electrical circuits. Two rooms are equipped for graphics with one well equipped with a CAMM1, woodworking equipment and a suite of computers, one of which is connected to the internet.
Two rooms are available for Textiles, well equipped with sewing machines, 3 computers, internet connection and a computerised embroidery machine. There are two food rooms resourced for practical food work with 4 computers, a conveyor area and a wide range of food preparation equipment. The rooms are all closely situated to one another and are light and airy. We share a digital projector, laptops and a TV/Video/DVD player. Some rooms also have wireless internet connection. Teachers are able to book a computer suite of 20 computers with an interactive whiteboard which is situated in the D & T block. We have our own laser cutter and sublimation printing facility.
As a deptartment the staff work closely with the staff in the CLC to make full use of the resources available there.
Curriculum
