Subject
Design and Technology
Ks3 About Technology is essentially a practical subject, which encourages students to recognise the need for improvement and innovation in the world they live in. It requires them to make practical use of their learning from other curriculum areas and to combine their designing and making skills with the knowledge and understanding gained in theoretical lessons to produce quality products. The Technology curriculum is taught through the delivery of three main units of work – Electronics & Control, Resistant Materials, and Graphic Products. Each unit is formed into a scheme of work which can be improved and modified as required to allow for the introduction new technologies and ideas. Throughout years 7 and 8 the students are given every opportunity to develop their technological capability by undertaking a range of focused practical tasks to allow them to problem-solve given design-and-make scenarios. Typical Year 7 projects and topics include: Decorative key fob Wind-spinning ornament Ball bearing puzzle Steady-hand game Motor controlled jitterbug Desk tidy Typical Year 8 projects and topics include: Screwdriver and holder Moisture detector circuit Programmable dice Blister pack At the end of Year 8, all students are then chosen to undertake one of the three main GCSE themes offered. They are placed in either AQA Design and Technology GCSE Electronics Products, AQA Design and Technology GCSE Resistant Materials or AQA Design and Technology GCSE Graphic Products. The selection process for GCSE is based on the student’s individual areas of strength, and while the process is very thorough, there is still scope for movement throughout Year 9 depending on how the student develops in their allocated discipline. Typical Year 9 projects and topics include: Resistant Materials Garden multi-tool Tipper truck Bird feeder Electronic Products Safety light Cyberpet Graphic Products Skill building Pop- up greetings card Easter egg box Corporate identity
At the beginning of Year 10, students are allowed to complete their final projects for all GCSE strands, electronic products, resistant materials and graphic products. Staff then set about carrying out small skills consolidation projects in preparation for the start of their GCSE controlled assessment work later in the year. Assessment Arrangements Weekly homework, termly module tests and an end-of-year examination.