Design Technology is about pupils designing and making products to solve problems that they come across in everyday life. They use their knowledge and understanding to devise a method or solution, realise it practically and evaluate the end product and decisions taken during the process. This process is characterised by the following stages: Describing the situation; identifying a need; analysing the problem; research; specifying what is needed; creating ideas; developing solutions; making the product; testing and evaluating what they have made.

Year 7

Pupils will consider aesthetic issues and develop skills in handling metals and tools. They will design and make a badge or broach using enamelling on copper.

CAD
(Computer Aided Design

Pupils will develop their ability to use a computer to design things. They will be introduced to a package called “2D design tools”, and will use this to produce a range of graphical designs.

The work covered provides a basic grounding in hygiene, personal and kitchen, as well as an awareness of safety in the kitchen. Practical skills include the use of the cooker and basic equipment and generally increasing their familiarity with ingredients. Evaluation of practical work is a key homework task. The Sainsbury's Food Challenge is introduced at the Bronze Level – where the importance of fruit and vegetables in the diet is paramount.

Pupils will consider the problems associated with travelling on boring long journeys. They will design and make a travel game to alleviate the tedium.

Year 8

Pupils will be introduced to the use and construction of basic electronic circuits and principles. They will design and make an electronic quiz incorporated in a thermo formed plastic container and presented in a CAD designed box.

Healthy eating is an important part of the syllabus in this time of continued concern for the health of the nation. The use of basic ingredients and their functions are studied, concentrating on:

• fruit and vegetables
• milk and cheese
• meat and fish
• cereals
• sauces
• bread making

The Sainsbury's Food Challenge is completed at the Silver Level, where a pasta dish is the theme.

Pupils will design and mould thermo forming plastic to produce a hand held ball bearing game on a design theme of their choice.

Year 8

Pupils analyse a range of existing clocks. They develop a design based on a theme of their choice. The clock is realised using a wide range of appropriate materials, tools and techniques.

Pupils design and make an illuminated novelty incorporating a light sensitive circuit housed in a vacuum formed case.

Multiculture is the theme of Year 9 concentrating on traditional dishes from: France, India, China, Mexico, Italy and Spain. This culminates in the Sainsbury’s Food Challenge at the Gold Level, where Foods of the World is the theme.

Teaching Group Organisation

Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups.

Assessment

Pupils’ work is assessed for content and outcome by National Curriculum levels of attainment. In addition, pupils’ effort for each piece of work is graded using the school 1 to 5 scale.

Homework

Homework is usually set on a weekly basis. It will often take the form of information gathering or developing work started during the lesson.

GCSE

There are four Design and Technology options available at Key Stage 4 GCSE

Engineering (Double Award)

This course is a different style of technology qualification, with more emphasis on developing engineering skills in a work setting. The qualification is a double award, and so will lead to the equivalent of two GCSEs. This subject is ideal for those students who are considering working in a technical setting, and could lead into further vocational qualifications as well as being transferable into higher academic qualifications.

Syllabus

The course is split into three distinct units:

• Unit 1 – Design and Graphical Communication

  In this unit, students investigate design problems and develop engineering solutions to those problems. They learn about different forms of engineering drawing techniques, design briefs, and solutions to problems.

• Unit 2 – Engineered Products

  In this unit, students will develop skills in making engineered products, and will consider the issues that constrain what is possible. They learn about materials, machines and processes, and will spend a considerable amount of time manufacturing products.

• Unit 3 – Application of Technology

  In this unit, students will study manufacturing and engineering sectors, and will look at the impact that ICT and new developments such as smart materials have on engineering. Throughout the course reference is made to the textbook “Engineering GCSE” by Mike Tooley, ISBN 0–7506–5644–1

Teacher Group Organisation

Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups.

Assessment

Examination Board: OCR Syllabus 1492

The course is assessed by both coursework and two terminal exams.

Terminal exams 33% Coursework 67%

Coursework consists of a two projects involving about 100 hours work, which will start at the end of year 10, and continue throughout year 11. There is no tiering of entries, and so pupils can achieve A* – U.

Homework

Homework is set on a twice weekly basis, and will typically cover research tasks, design work, and evaluating products.

Food Technology

Food technology is designed to provide opportunities for investigation, designing, making and evaluation which focus on the use of food as a material. Pupils will acquire an appropriate knowledge of the complex nature of food as a material, its various properties, the effect of processing and the appropriate selection of tools and equipment which enable it to be cut, formed, shaped and finished. This will be achieved through focused practical tasks and assignments which will enable a range of skills and processes to be developed. Wherever possible these will be related to industrial practices and processes.

Syllabus

Food product design, development and production

• Food product development
• Food labelling and legislation
• Food processing

Food as a material

• Composition, structure and properties of food
• Working characteristics of food
• Effect of temperature and other factors on processing and storage of food.

Food manufacturing and processing

• The effect of combining different ingredients during preparation and cooking
• Proportions of ingredients
• Additives
• Use of correct equipment
• Micro organisms and enzymes
• Preparation and preservation methods that effect quality and storage of food products.

Throughout the course reference is made to the book “Design Technology: Food Technology GCSE KS4”. ISBN 0–00–323539–4

Teacher Group Organisation

Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups.

Assessment

Examination Board: AQA Syllabus 3542

The scheme of assessment consists of two components.

Terminal exams 40% Coursework 60%

Coursework consists of a single project involving about 25 hours supervised time which commences towards the end of Year 10.

All written work should be kept in a Food Technology file and retained for inspection. In addition to the GCSE course, a course on Food Hygiene is studied resulting in the Basic Food Hygiene Certificate.

Homework

Homework tasks vary and are given on a weekly basis or on a long term basis when working on projects or assignments.

Graphic Products

Pupils will be taught

• Freehand sketching
• Isometric, orthographic and planometric drawing
• Rendering techniques using pencil, crayon and felt markers
• Basic geometry
• Development of geometrical shapes
• Basic model making techniques - prototyping
• Representation of statistical information
• Designing skills
• Industrial applications and methods
• Product evaluation
• Use of information technology

Throughout the course reference is made to the book “Design and Make It: Graphic Products” ISBN 0–7487–2474–5

Teacher Group Organisation

Pupils work in a mixed ability groups in all Design Technology options.

Assessment

Examination Board: OCR Syllabus 1955

Pieces of graphic work will usually be marked out of 10.

In Year 11 pupils have to complete the coursework element of the examination, which will involve design and make tasks. They will also have to sit a terminal examination. This will be assessed against criteria published by the examinations board.

Coursework 60%

Written Examination:

Paper 1 – 20%

Paper 2 – 20%

Pupils are entered for different paper levels which lead to grades in the following ranges:

Foundation C – G / Higher A* – D

Homework

Homework is set weekly and will cover much of the skill and theory work applicable to the course.