Design Technology

 

KS3 – to provide students with an ever developing

broad-based up to date experience in each area of

Technology. This will build on and add to the work

students covered in KS2.

A ten week carousel is followed for all areas at KS3. Currently these areas include Food, Graphics, Textiles and Resistant Materials. At the end of KS3 students

should:

• Be able to make an informed choice for their options;
• Have knowledge and skills for life;
• Have skills and knowledge that can be built on should they choose a technology option;
• Have covered the national curriculum for KS3.

 

KS4 – the exam board curriculum forms the basis of the syllabus for most lessons, in particular those lessons preparing students for exams. This is supplemented with traditional skills and knowledge acquired through projects in the workshop and modern manufacturing techniques in the CAD CAM area. In graphics students will experience CAD software in addition to traditional hand techniques. Modern CAM machinery will be used by both areas. These practical sessions provide skills for life, make lessons more relevant and interesting for students and bring to life some of the theoretical knowledge covered.

 

Programmes of Study

KS3 – A carousel of Textiles, Graphics, Food and Materials where students spend ten weeks in each specialist area. This has the national curriculum for KS3 as its foundations.

KS4 - If opted for a GCSE course titled ‘Design Technology’ is taken. Within this course students then choose a specialist pathway of either graphics or Materials Technology.

 

Marking and Assessment

KS3 – Teacher assessments of the design and practical work completed by students are made for each ten week carousel. These help to inform parents of a student's progress and effort.  Verbal feedback in lessons plays a major role, especially in practical sessions. Students also receive written teacher feedback as well as peer assessments to further guide their learning.

KS4 – during focussed practical tasks feedback is verbal with assessments being recorded if appropriate at the end of the tasks. These judgements give guidance to the students but play no part in their final GCSE mark. Core content covered in theory lessons is assessed both in class and with mock exams in both years 10 and 11. Students are given grades throughout the year in accordance with whole school assessment. Marking of core content is often a matter of checking students are making suitable notes from which to learn / revise and periodically giving them the opportunity to check their learning with end of unit tests, class worksheets and homeworks that pose questions about recent work covered.

GCSE marks come from two sources.

1) 50% exam (externally assessed) and

2) 50% coursework (also known as None Examined Assessments (NEA’s) - internally assessed, externally moderated). The latter is conducted under controlled assessment guidelines written by the exam board. Students get the chance to investigate, design and make a practical outcome that addresses one of the themes published by the exam board.

Examinations

A single tier exam sat at the end of year 11 accounts for 50% of the final GCSE marks. Current intent is to use AQA exam board which is a 2 hour exam. The remaining 50% of their marks come from none examined assessments (NEA’s or coursework) completed in lesson time

Revision Guides/Supporting Resources

Past examination papers and revision materials will be made available to all students. In addition to these and students' own notes made in class, the following revision guides are available. It is strongly advised that one of these be purchased if possible. It is worth pointing out that students who fail to achieve their target grades usually do so because of a lack of exam preparation.

1) Possibly the best / simplest (and cheapest!) Daydream – Pocket sized guide GCSE Design Technology ISBN 978-1-906248-52-9 - We usually have these in stock, best paid for through parent pay.

2) CGP guides - Complete revision and practice ISBN 978-1-78294-755-4 - Good guide with some exam practice questions in. Cheapest if ordered through school on parent pay.

3) AQA GCSE (9-1) Design and Technology ISBN 978-1-910523-10-0 (PG online) very expensive but the ‘official’ book to the course. Whilst useful, this book would be over the top for most students.

4) Teams – On Microsoft outlook there are resources stored in Teams which are very extensive and allow students to learn remotely, revise and supplement their classwork in their own time and at a pace that suits them. These can be accessed outside of school using the internet. The same resources are duplicated in Classwork, Technology, ‘GCSE Powerpoints and worksheets’ for use when in school.

5) Seneca – free online revision site - make good use of this for all subject

6) designtechnology.com - Very good online sitefor all technology areas.

7) BBC Bitesize – useful for all subjects, gives a general and interactive overview of the subject.

Staff Details

Mr Hull – Head of Department, teacher of technology – materials

Mrs Shaw – Teacher of food on the KS3 technology carousel

Mrs Miller – Teacher of Technology – Textiles

Mr Cassidy – Teacher of Technology - Graphics

 

Careers and Progression

 

GCSE Design Technology lends itself to a variety or careers including engineering, architecture, mechanic, trades such as plumbing, building, carpentry and joinery, electrician, graphics design and graphics artist. It shows future employers / colleges that students are both academic and have practical skills. Their GCSE coursework shows a wide range of skills including ICT, literacy, CAD / CAM, designing, sketching and digital media.

This course leads on to A levels or level 2 and level 3 further education study in product design, engineering, 3D design, art and design and graphic design to name a few.

There is the ability to take this further to university level study in a range of related subjects or follow an apprenticeship route.

 

Progress Ladder - Design Technology