Design Technology

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. They acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation.

Aims

The national curriculum for design and technology aims to ensure that all pupils:

Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
Build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
Understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 students are taught Design Technology on a carousel as below

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Design Technology Skills	Design Technology Skills	Design Technology Skills
Graphics	Graphics	Graphics
Product Design	Product Design	Product Design
Electronics	Mechanical Devices	Wood Laminating
Textiles	Textiles	Brand Identity
Food technology	Food technology	Food technology

Hours taught per week – 2

Key Stage 4 Design Technology

Students either specialise in Papers and Boards or Timbers for Component 1 of their Design Technology GCSE.

Course content

The GCSE in Design and Technology enables students to understand and apply iterative design processes through which they explore, create and evaluate a range of outcomes.

The qualification enables students to use creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes (together with evidence of modelling to develop and prove product concept and function) that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. It gives students opportunities to apply knowledge from other disciplines, including mathematics, science, art and design, computing and the humanities.

Students learn how to take design risks, helping them to become resourceful, innovative and enterprising citizens. They should develop an awareness of practices from the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. Through the critique of the outcomes of design and technology activity, both historic and present day, students should develop an understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world and understand that high-quality design and technology is important to the creativity, culture, sustainability, wealth and wellbeing of the nation and the global community.

Hours taught per week – 3

Curriculum Journey

Exam Board – Pearson

Specification

Assessment

Exam (1.75 hours)	Core content PLUS Papers and Boards OR Timbers	50% of qualification
Non exam assessment	Project coursework comprised of an investigate, design, make and evaluate task.	50% of qualification

Key Stage 4 Hospitality & Catering

Course content

The WJEC Level 1/2 Award in Hospitality and Catering has been designed to support learners who want to learn about this vocational sector and the potential it can offer them for their careers or further study. The course is designed for students with an interest in and enjoyment of food preparation and presentation, nutrition, healthy eating and working in the Hospitality and Catering sector. The knowledge, understanding and skills you develop are vocationally relevant with applied learning to give you ‘real-life’ purposeful experiences within and outside the school environment. It will provide students with experience of using different cooking techniques and methods to enable them to use these within further education or apprenticeships. It is a practical based course where you will develop food handling skills.

Hours taught per week – 3

Curriculum Journey

Exam Board – Eduqas

Specification

Assessment

Exam (1.2 hours)	The hospitality and catering industry	40% of qualification
Non exam assessment	Hospitality and catering in action. Controlled assessment of approximately 12 hours.	60% of qualification

Key Stage 4 Food & Cookery

Students study a Level 1 & 2 Technical Award

Curriculum Journey

Exam Board – NCFE

Specification https://www.ncfe.org.uk/media/andbi4rh/60370142-qualification-specification.pdf (link does not work)

Assessment

Exam (1.5 hours)	Written exam	40% of qualification
Non exam assessment	Controlled assessment of approximately 16.5 hours	60% of qualification

Key Stage 5 Product Design A Level

Course content

This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers. Especially those in the creative industries.

They will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning in to practice by producing prototypes of their choice.

Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

Exam board – AQA

Specification

Assessment

Exam (2.5 hours)	Technical principles	30% of qualification
Exam (1.5 hours)	Designing and making principles	20% of qualification
Non exam assessment	Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles.	50% of qualification