Design and Technology
| About the Faculty |
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Design and innovation are at the heart of the Design and Technology Faculty. This is a very popular subject area with students and has a high profile in the school with examples of students' work exhibited or used throughout the school. Facilities for learning in Design and Technology are excellent; comprising of dedicated rooms and specialist machinery including 3D printers, laser cutters and engineering lathes. The faculty has a suite of well-equipped wood and engineering workshops together with 3 design studios equipped with 3 suites of PCs with specialist graphic and design programmes. There is a well-equipped food room as well as dedicated textiles areas. Students are taught by specialist staff in all areas, all of whom have worked in their own relevant industry area. The faculty is expertly supported by trained technicians.
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| Curriculum Intent Statement |
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Design and Technology aims to develop students understanding of the ‘made’ world. Students develop their creativity, problem solving and critical thinking through their experience of an engaging, rigorous, and constantly evolving curriculum. Students develop their creative designing and practical making skills to solve real world problems in a variety of different contexts, influenced by the work of others, past and present. Students experience the different stages of the Iterative Design Process as they move around the curriculum with increasing levels of complexity as they move through KS3, developing their technical knowledge and practical skills in the process. Students experience a board range of material contexts across KS3 enabling them develop skills in a wide range of tools and technologies as well as transferrable skills such as problem solving, independent working and critical thinking. Students are encouraged to draw cross curricular links with other subjects to embed their learning across the wider school and enhance their appreciation of how Design and Technology embodies the whole school curriculum. |
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
At Key Stage 3 the subject is taught through a wide range of material areas that include: Product Design, Graphic Design, Food and Textiles.
During Years 7, 8 & 9 students will experience work in all these areas with specialist teaching staff in well-equipped dedicated workshop areas. Students are encouraged to express their creativity through a series of structured tasks and projects that leave scope for an increasingly high level of individuality.
A strong emphasis is placed on producing products of high quality design and manufacture at all levels. Students are encouraged to observe and analyse examples of good design in their everyday life and to appreciate the life enhancing qualities of good design.
The faculty has excellent ICT equipment which supports and enhances the work produced in the design studios and workshops and is linked to a variety of CAD/ CAM machines in all areas.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
At Key Stage 4 the faculty offers GCSEs in Design & Technology (Graphics or Product Design routes) and Food Preparation & Nutrition. All of these subjects follow the EDUQAS exam board.
Students are encouraged to develop their making and problem solving skills through a range of tasks initially identified by the staff but increasingly identified by the students. Theory content and practical skills are taught throughout Year 10 in all subjects.
This enables students to develop expertise in their material area and to choose and apply the correct techniques when developing their own work in Year 11 where emphasis is placed on independent learning and decision making.
In all subjects, in Year 11 students are exclusively focussed on their NEA coursework tasks.
Key Stage 5 Curriculum
| Product Design |
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Board: EDUQAS (A602QS)
A Level Product Design is a full immersion in all aspects of the design industry. You will be expected to independently project manage a range of exciting and relevant design assignments – seeing each one through to completion. In Year 13, you will choose your own context, client and product for your NEA.
You are expected to have a keen interest in either design, engineering, architecture or innovation. This is a challenging course with a focus on high quality manufacture, detailed understanding of the iterative design process and an in depth knowledge of industrial and commercial practices.
You need commitment and enthusiasm for this area of study. You have to be able to work on your own on projects which can last for extended periods. This requires a positive attitude, self-motivation and a high degree of initiative.
Students studying A level Product Design in Year 12 are taught by two specialist teachers in a combined class alongside our Year 13 A level Product Design students. You will also have supervised access to the design rooms and workshops during your non-contact time (and you’re expected to use it!)
Assessment
Coursework (NEA) - 50%
Examination - 50%
Course content
The course will give you the opportunities to:
- Be innovative and develop your creativity to produce very high quality products
- Provide opportunity to apply mathematical, scientific and artistic skills and knowledge to real situations
- Study both products and manufacturing processes from both an historical perspective and in current practice
- Develop knowledge, understanding and skills of industrial practices
- Use sophisticated software to enhance your Design and Technology capability
- Develop critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative skills
Entry requirements
You would normally be expected to have achieved a grade 6 or above in GCSE Design and Technology, as well as an APS of 4.5 or above.
| Graphics (Art Syllabus) |
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Board: EdExcel (9GC0)
This is an Art based Graphics course jointly taught by the Art and Technology faculties. You should enjoy solving image based problems which are suitable for commercial application and enjoy working to Design Briefs. You will be given the opportunity to work on projects relating to design, illustration and typography through a wide range of drawing and mark making media including paint, pastels, inks and collage, developing your ideas and images using specialist computer software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. This course would suit people who have an interest in Photography as well as traditional Art skills. Access to your own camera would be an advantage but not essential.
This A Level may also be taken in combination with other portfolio based course, but due to the similar structure of assessments and deadlines, advice should be taken if you plan to do this.
Assessment
You will be marked on your visual recording skills, development of ideas, contextual awareness and realisations.
Coursework 60% included 2000+ word written research project that is worth 20% of the final mark.
15 hour Practical Exam sat in sessions over a three week period worth 40% of the final mark.
Course content
There will be an initial skills based project followed by a self-directed practical project called the specialist project. In Year 13 this will include a written research project. You will also complete a 10 hour mock exam in Year 12 and a 15 hour timed exam in Year 13.
Entry requirements
We would expect you to achieve a B or above in GCSE Graphics or grade 6 or above in GCSE Art and Design as well as an APS of 4.5 or above.
Marking Policy
Extended Curriculum
Throughout a student’s experience of Design & Technology, we will promote numerous local and national competitions / initiatives to encourage students to experience the world of innovation in exciting and relevant contexts.
On a regular basis, we run range of clubs giving students opportunities to develop their love of learning in D&T.
At GCSE & A Level we run trips for students where they can add value to their learning. These included the BBC Good Food exhibition, trips to Borough Market, the London Design Museum and the New Designers’ Exhibition where A Level students can experience the next level of expectation when looking to study design based subjects at degree level or higher.
Year on year, we build on our strong links with the local community and look for opportunities to expose students to real life design situations. Our GCSE and A Level student all work with real clients, solving real life design problems in order to produce their NEA.
Year 12 students enter our SJL Young Designer competition through an external design project which is set and assessed by a local external client, currently Louis de Soissons Architects.
