Design & Technology
Why is the subject important?
Design & technology enables young people to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing of themselves, their community and their nation. It teaches students a wide range of practical and academic skills to enable them to apply complex theoretical concepts to the design and manufacture of products.
The aim of our curriculum is to produce creative and imaginative learners, with a love of creative design. We build resilience, independence and confidence in students’ application of both modern and traditional skills, and we foster that in an environment where problem solving is encouraged and mistakes are a key part of learning.
We aim to develop students’ talents and encourage their creative aspirations, and give them the skills to have choice in their further study and careers.
Year 7
What will I be studying?
- Introduction to technical drawing
- Innovation challenge; Solving real world problems
- Core Textiles decorative techniques
- Core Resistant Materials manufacturing skills
- Food & Nutrition: the basics of cooking
- Core Food & Nutrition theory
Career Links
Product Designer, Chef, Dietitian, Graphic Designer, Joiner, Construction worker, Structural Engineer, H&S Inspector, Quality Controller, Environmental Health Officer, Architect, Fashion Designer, Garment Technologist, Seamstress.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed on your ability to design, manufacture and evaluate across 3 material areas: Textiles, Resistant Materials and Food. Your understanding of key theoretical knowledge (such as nutrition theory and knowledge of materials) will be assessed alongside these core skills.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
Year 8
What will I be studying?
- Core Textiles construction techniques
- Core Resistant Materials; Manufacturing a product
- Mechanisms and materials
- Food & Nutrition: developing cooking skills
- Food & Nutrition: factors affecting food choices
Career Links
Product Designer, Chef, Dietitian, Graphic Designer, Joiner, Construction worker, Structural Engineer, H&S Inspector, Quality Controller, Environmental Health Officer, Architect, Fashion Designer, Garment Technologist, Seamstress.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed on your ability to design, manufacture and evaluate across 3 material areas: Textiles, Resistant Materials and Food. Your understanding of key theoretical knowledge (such as nutrition theory and knowledge of materials) will be assessed alongside these core skills.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
Year 9
What will I be studying?
- Textiles: Product development and manufacture
- Architectural Design
- Competency in technical drawing techniques
Career Links
Product Designer, Chef, Dietitian, Graphic Designer, Joiner, Construction worker, Structural Engineer, H&S Inspector, Quality Controller, Environmental Health Officer, Architect, Fashion Designer, Garment Technologist, Seamstress.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed on your ability to design, manufacture and evaluate across 3 material areas: Textiles, Resistant Materials and Food. Your understanding of key theoretical knowledge (such as nutrition theory and knowledge of materials) will be assessed alongside these core skills.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
Years 10 and 11: Hospitality and Catering
What will I be studying?
Students will be assessed on two units.
Unit 1: The Hospitality and Catering Industry
(External exam)
- LO1: Understand the environment in which hospitality and catering providers operate
- LO2: Understand how hospitality and catering provisions operate
- LO3: Understand how hospitality and catering provision meets health and safety requirements
- LO4: Know how food can cause ill health
- LO5: Be able to propose a hospitality and catering provision to meet specific requirements
Unit 2: Hospitality and Catering in Action
(Internally assessed and moderated by the exam board)
Learners will learn how to safely plan, prepare, cook and serve nutritional dishes.
- LO1: Understand the importance of nutrition in planning menus
- LO2: Understand menu planning
- LO3: Be able to cook dishes
Career Links
Events Co-ordinator, Restaurant/Hotel Manager, serving staff, Sommelier, Chef, Food Technologist, Food Critic, Environmental Health Officer.
How will I be assessed?
Unit 1 – The Hospitality and Catering Industry (externally assessed) 40%
Unit 2 – Hospitality and Catering in Action (internally assessed and moderated by the exam board) 60%
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
Years 10 and 11: Three-dimensional Design
What will I be studying?
Students learn about the processes of engineering design and how market requirements inform client briefs. Through practical activities they develop skills in computer modelling and model making and how to communicate design ideas effectively.
Unit R105 – Design briefs, design specifications and user requirements
- LO1: Understand the design cycle and the relationship between design briefs and design specifications
- LO2: Understand the requirements of design specifications for the development of a new product
- LO3: Know about the wider influences on the design of new products
Unit R106 – Product analysis and research
- LO1: Know how commercial production methods, quality and legislation impact on the design of products and components
- LO2: Be able to research existing products
- LO3: Be able to analyse an existing product through disassembly
Unit R107 – Developing and presenting engineering designs
- LO1: Be able to generate design proposals using a range of techniques
- LO2: Know how to develop designs using engineering drawing techniques and annotation
- LO3: Be able to use CAD software and techniques to produce and communicate design proposals
Unit R108 – 3D Design Realisation
- LO1: Know how to plan the making of a prototype
- LO2: Understand the safe working practices used when making a prototype
- LO3: Be able to produce a prototype
- LO4: Be able to evaluate the success of a prototype
Career Links
Structural Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Product Designer, Aerospace Engineer, Buyer, Product Manager, Quality Controller, Architect, Industrial Designer, CAD Engineer, Car Designer, Construction Manager.
How will I be assessed?
The learners are externally assessed for one unit (R105 – Design briefs, design specifications and user requirements) with the remaining 3 units being assessed within school and moderated by the exam board.
Which websites should I use to support my learning?
