Design & Technology
Our Curriculum Vision & Purpose
The Design and Technology curriculum will instil pupils with a passion for the ‘made’ world. They will be equipped to design and make products that solve real life problems in a variety of contexts. The curriculum is balanced and broadly based with pupils studying different types of materials in conjunction with the differing areas of Design and Technology including textiles and resistant materials. The Key Stage 3 curriculum follows the programmes of study as outlined within the National Curriculum and prepares pupils who opt to study it further at GCSE and beyond. The Design and Technology curriculum not only prepares young adults for study, it allows them to develop and apply a wide range of practical skills that they potentially will use throughout their adult life well beyond the confines of the classroom. Design and Technology is a subject that supports the learning of other subjects across the curriculum such as mathematics, science, computing and art as it allows pupils to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-life context. Design and Technology enables pupils to become autonomous problem solvers who can positively contribute to society developing innovative and aesthetically pleasing and functional products. Design and Technology can be studied through a broad range of courses at both further and higher educational institutions allowing pupils to achieve both academic and vocational qualifications as well as preparing them for the possibility of completing apprenticeships or even starting their careers within the design, manufacturing and construction industries. However, pupils who choose not to study Design and Technology beyond secondary education will already be equipped with key skills that include commercial awareness, effective communication, team work, problem solving, organisation, perseverance, resilience and motivation all of which are sought by prospective employers.
Powerful Knowledge
Students will develop a broad knowledge of the design process to enable them to solve contextual problems. Students will know, understand and apply key skills and concepts (research and analysis, designing and communication, planning, making and evaluating) in order to find appropriate solutions to design problems. Key concepts include health and safety across a range of material areas, manufacturing processes, human factors and the environment. The powerful knowledge required will enable students to develop key life skills by becoming analytical thinkers, creative problem solvers who are organised in their planning and implementation of practical skills. It will also enable students to develop the skills to critically evaluate their work and the work of others. ‘Mastery’ is used to stretch and challenge the more able and reinforce learning.
Curriculum Features
The design process is at the heart of the curriculum; as pupil’s progress from year 7 through to year 11 the curriculum increases in complexity. Students develop a greater depth of knowledge and understanding with regards to properties of materials, manufacturing techniques and processes, and also become explicitly aware of environmental issues that can affect our everyday lives. The foundations are laid during Key Stage 3 and underpin the key areas of the design process. This enables students to become more critical in their approach to iterative design. If they choose to progress through to Key Stage 4 they can then develop the ability to create more complex solutions to given problems developing the ability to argue, justify and present with confidence and clarity.
