Design and Technology

Design and Technology

Design and Technology is an inspiring and challenging subject.  We provide a lively dynamic environment in which students have the confidence to create innovative ideas and the capability to bring their ideas to life.

A full range of specialisms is offered within the department giving students the option to concentrate on different areas of the subject.  A high proportion of students take this subject at GCSE and A-level and as a result, by the time they leave school, have a high level of practical skills.

Staff and facilities

The Design and Technology department is led by Mr S Love.  Mr S Waggott is Second in Department and Mrs C Rose is Head of Food Technology.  They are supported by three specialist teachers and three technicians. 

The department is extremely well catered for in terms of facilities with:

• two specialist Food and Catering rooms
• one Textiles room
• one specialist Engineering room
• two Resistant Materials rooms
• a Systems and Control room equipped with a full set of computers
• a Graphics room
• a full ICT suite

Parental Support: 

Each year we set up a Parent Forum.  This is provided to enable parents to come along to the Department and understand the importance of Design and Technology.  Parents get the opportunity to discuss potential career paths for their children before students need to complete their option selections in Year 9.

In July we hold an Annual Exhibition to celebrate the achievements and extraordinary hard work of the GCSE and A-Level students.  Parents are invited to come and see the outstanding work on display.

Enrichment

Trips

The department runs a vast number of educational visits and takes part in national competitions.  These are organised to enrich the learning taking place within lessons.  Some of these include:

• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Harry Potter World
• NEC Fashion Show
• JSP Plastics manufacture
• The 3D Printer Show

Key Stage 3

Intent:

Our high expectations of students in Key Stage 3 promote challenging concepts and encourage students to begin thinking about modern technological developments. We intend to reflect industrial practices whilst retaining the best of traditional methods. The department provides the opportunity for students to learn by doing; taking risks; trying new approaches and developing their skills in all areas of Technology both within the classroom and through extra curricula activities. At the core of this is the passion to deliver a curriculum in which students produce high quality outcomes and acquire knowledge which will prepare them for success at Key Stage 4 and beyond.

Implementation:

The journey of a Burford School Technology Student at Key Stage 3

During Key Stage 3 students rotate between the different subjects which make up Technology. This enables students to cover a very broad spectrum of learning, embracing different material areas and the processes involved in designing and manufacturing products.

Year 7:

In Year 7 students will have three rotations; Food Technology, Product Design – Resistant Materials and Graphics; Product Design – Textiles and Systems.

During rotations the students are introduced to practical skills and knowledge they may not have sampled during primary school. During this first year we aim to use the designing and manufacture of products to broaden students’ knowledge and understanding of materials and ingredients and how these can be combined to produce high quality outcomes in an exciting and fulfilling way. Our purpose is to link learning to practical application. Students are assessed on their practical ability, book work, end of rotation exam and end of year exam.

Food Technology

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation:

• How to cook and prepare a range of sweet and savoury dishes
• Hygiene rules for cooking and preparing food
• The importance of a healthy, varied diet
• The functions of basic ingredients and how dishes can be modified to be healthier

Prooduct Design – Resistant Materials and Graphics

Some of the topics students will learn during this rotation:

• How to use and select the correct equipment to produce a high quality product
• How to communicate design ideas in different ways
• How to develop an accurate specification
• About different timbers and manufactured made boards

Product Design – Textiles and Systems

Some of the topics students will learn during this rotation:

• How to use Computer Aided Design and Manufacture to produce a high quality product
• Electronic components and how to design and construct a working circuit
• Hand and machine sewing techniques and how they can be used to create a high quality product
• ‘Smart Materials’ and how they differ from other materials

Year 8:

In Year 8 students continue with three rotations; Food Technology, Product Design – Resistant Materials and Graphics; Product Design – Textiles and Systems.

During rotations the students continue to build upon and develop their learning from Year 7. Again, we aim to use the designing and manufacture of products to broaden students understanding of specific material areas and explore how advanced combinations of ingredients can help to develop more challenging products. Our focus continues to link learning to practical applications. During this year students begin to think about modern technologies, industrial processes and responsibilities of designers and food industries. Students are assessed on their practical ability as well as their core knowledge through book work, end of rotation exam and end of year exam.

Food Technology

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• a wide range of methods and techniques to prepare and cook food.
• how to cook and prepare a range of sweet and savoury dishes.
• the importance of a healthy, varied diet and special dietary needs.
• how different combinations of ingredients can be used to create meals for a range of specialist diets.

Product Design – Resistant Materials and Graphics

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• how to use and select a wider range of equipment and processes to produce a high quality product.
• investigating colour, shape, imagery, typefaces etc. in the production of a comic book.
• the work of past and present designers and how these can influence students own work.
• different material areas including woods, metals and plastics.

Product Design – Textiles and Systems

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• electronic components, parallel circuits and the systems approach in terms of input – process – output.
• how more advanced electronic components can improve functionality e.g motors and pre-programmed LEDs.
• branding and how an effective Brand can improves the success of a company in terms of logo, strapline etc.
• a wider range of sewing techniques, sublimation printing and how electronic circuits can be combined with textiles.

Year 9:

In Year 9 students continue to have three rotations, however, at this stage, they focus their material areas by choosing three choices from:

• Food Technology
• Product Design – Graphic Products
• Product Design – Resistant Materials
• Product Design – Textiles
• Product Design – Systems
• Engineering

During rotations students continue to build upon and develop their learning from Year 7 and 8. We focus on the designing and manufacture of products to broaden student’s skills, knowledge and understanding and prepare them for studying our offer of technology courses at Key Stage 4. Students experience an ever increasing degree of challenge and are expected to use their ingenuity, creativity and knowledge acquired in Years 7 and 8 to produce high quality outcomes. Our focus continues to link learning to practical applications covering more advanced practical skills and theoretical learning. Students will be assessed on their practical ability and knowledge through book work and end of year exams.

Food Technology

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• advanced practical skills covering pastry techniques and sauces.
• eating seasonally and sustainably; the advantages and disadvantages including global impact.
• the effect of different foods on the body.
• how modification of ingredient choices can be made to significantly improve food products.

Product Design – Graphic Products

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• how to use scale in the production of an architectural model.
• the work of past and present designers and how these can influence students own work.
• use of advanced design techniques to convey ideas in a multitude of ways.
• advanced use of Computer Aided Design including 3D modelling.

Product Design – Resistant Materials

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• effective task analysis and how to approach a specific design context.
• how to display ideas using specific conventions such as isometric, CAD rendering, etc.
• how materials from different materials areas can be combined and joined to create a high quality outcome.
• advanced materials knowledge including industrial techniques such as line bending.

Product Design – Textiles

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• advanced sewing techniques and skills, embroidery machine, applique and batik.
• designer awareness and the styles, materials and techniques used by costume designers.
• garment construction including pattern cutting and assembly.
• environmental awareness and global fashion issues.

 Product Design – Systems

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• advanced microcontroller programming and how microcontrollers can be used to connect different input and output components.
• logic gates and how they can be used to define the functions of specific systems.
• printed circuit board manufacture in the classroom and industrial processes.
• how designers are responsible for environmental impact including reduce, reuse and recycle.

Engineering

Some of the topics students learn during this rotation include:

• advanced metal manufacturing methods including milling and centre lathe
• metal surface finishes and treatments including dip coating.
• how metals can be joined together including welding and riveting.
• the importance of planning for manufacture, considering processes and time required.

Extra Curricula Opportunities

Throughout Key Stage 3 students are offered the opportunity to continue their learning outside the class room through a variety of clubs, trips and competitions. These opportunities encourage students to further develop their learning, provide further prospects for students to continue their passion for the subject as well as expand their independent skills.

Some of the clubs and competitions we offer include:

• Engineering club – where student’s will be able to develop a go-kart.
• Textiles and Product Design club – where students will be able to produce a variety of products and develop their practical ability.
• Ready Steady Cook – Students have the opportunity to further develop their cooking skills.
• Logo Competition for the department – student’s will create new style logos for the department to encompass all of the material areas we deliver.
• Architectural model competition – student’s will create a development in the form of an architectural model for a new technology block.

Key Stage 4:

         Eduqas GCSE  – Food Preparation & Nutrition

         Eduqas Technical Level 2 in Engineering    

         Eduqas GCSE – Design & Technology

Food Preparation & Nutrition is run by Mrs C Rose.

The new GCSE course – Food Preparation and Nutrition consists of two class based assessments. The first is a food investigation (15% of total marks) and the second is about food preparation (35% of total marks). Both will be taken in Year 11 accounting for a total of 50%of the GCSE marks. A written paper (1hr 45mins) is taken in the summer of Year 11 making up the remaining 50% of the marks.

Students learn about food preparation and develop a wide range of practical skills. They also develop and deepen existing knowledge about commodities, diet and good health as well as the importance of provenance and the science behind food. They are also able to obtain their Food Hygiene certificate during Year 10.

Edudas Technical Level 2 in Engineering is run by: Mr S Love.

This is a vocational course aimed at students who are thinking of a career in engineering or want a more practical based subject. Equivalent to a GCSE, at Burford it is intended to allow students to either continue on to Engineering Level 3 at KS5 or go down the apprenticeship route.

For the majority of Year 10 the focus is on acquiring both practical, hand and machining skills as well as basic engineering drawing techniques, both manual and CAD based.  Students work on various projects ranging from candle holders to door knockers and there is a high volume of practical exercises for which students are expected to put in additional time to complete on time.

Engineering Level 2 is split into units and the assessment is both internal and external. The Award consists of three mandatory units.

In Year 11 students do their controlled assessments, unit 1 and 2, during lesson time. Unit 3 is an external exam taken in the summer.

Design & Technology

Students develop knowledge and understanding of a range of materials.  In depth knowledge and understanding of one material area is taught through the Controlled Assessment Project, which accounts for 50% of the qualification.

Key Stage 5:

AQA Level 3 Technical Level Engineering: Design Engineering

Eduqas A-level Design & Technology

AQA Level 3 Technical Level Engineering: Design Engineering is run by Mr Love.

This is a new two year course and is one of the revised A-level courses aimed at the more technical/ vocational subject areas.  Students over the period of the course cover the following four units;

1. Materials Technology and Science ( External Exam)
2. Mechanical Systems (Externally set and marked assignment)
3. Engineering Design (Internally centre assessed)
4. Production and Manufacturing. (Internally centre assessed)

In Year 12 students complete a piece of practical work supported by a portfolio of work every seven weeks, covering all aspects of Engineering from Health and Safety in the Workplace to Engineering Drawing and Computer Aided Drawing. This allows students to cover Units 3 and 4 as well as gain the expertise to be able to undertake Units 1 and 2 in Year 13.

This is a very practical based subject and students are expected, not only to work to a very high standard of accuracy and quality of finish, but be prepared to put in the extra time needed to complete the termly coursework deadlines.

Eduqas Product Design sets out to give students experience of all areas of Design and Technology.  By the time they complete the course they have the confidence and capability to develop creative ideas and bring them to life.

In Year 12 students are given ‘design and make’ tasks where they are expected to model as well as produce three dimensional products for each project and a portfolio of design work.

In Year 13 students build on the skills they have learnt in Year 12 and design and make a product of their choice from a brief of their choosing.

This is a linear qualification.  50% of the marks for A-level Product Design come from the written exam and 50% from the design and make project.

This is an innovative course within Design and Technology, and is excellent preparation for University.