Technology

Welcome to the Design & Technology Department.

The Design and Technology department is staffed by 4 enthusiastic, dedicated teachers who are specialists in one or more areas of the technology curriculum. All teachers are passionate about their subject and the benefits and opportunities that studying a technology subject can bring.
In addition to teaching staff we also have one full time and one part time Technician, who work alongside staff to prepare, resource and support the learning of our students.
We regularly work with local universities to train future generations of technology teachers.
Technology lessons are all taught within specialist teaching classrooms which include:
One newly refurbished high specification Food Technology room containing individual working spaces to enable all pupils to have access to a food preparation area, sink, hob and oven.
Three specialist multimedia workshops, fully equipped with access to a Laser Cutter, 3-D Printer, Heat Treatment area, Sublimation Printers and Heat Presses.
One newly refurbished Textiles Technology room with access to a range of Sewing Machines, a Sublimation Printer and Heat Press.
One dedicated ICT suite containing 27 networked computers and a range of specialist software including Corel Draw, Pro-desktop and Space Claim to enable students to cover all Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing aspects of the courses.
Each teaching room is also equipped with interactive whiteboards to enable teachers to plan and deliver lessons which are creative and challenging with the latest resources available.

KS3

All pupils study each of the four key areas of Design and Technology throughout KS3 following a carrousel system enabling pupils to spend 8-9 weeks working on design, theory knowledge and practical skills in each rotation.

Overview of the topics and projects covered at KS3

YEAR 7
Food	Safety/ Hygiene	Healthy Eating	Introduction to basic practical skills
Resistant Materials	Pewter Cast Keyring	CAD/CAM	Laser Cutting	Casting Process	Use of Hand Tools	die-cutting
Textiles	Cubism Inspired Soft Toy	Research into Cubism, Applique, embroidery, machine embroidery, pattern creation
Graphics	Key Fob Torch and Blister Packaging	Safety	Hand Tools	Vacuum Forming	Circuits
YEAR 8
Food	Understanding Ingredients and Experimental work	Food spoilage	Nutrition	Vegetarians	Sweet and savoury dishes
Resistant Materials	Mechanical Toy	CAD/CAM	Laser Cutting	Use of hand tools	Mechanisms
Textiles	Portrait Pencil Case	Focus on Pop Art	Dye techniques	Zip and lining attachment	Machine applique	Colour application techniques
Graphics	Mouse Mat and Header Tab Packaging	Drawing Techniques	CAD/CAM	Sublimation Printing
YEAR 9
Food	Dietary Groups and nutrition	Healthy Eating	Pastry experimental work	Characteristics of ingredients	Sustainability in food
Resistant Materials	USB Lamp	Laser Cutting	Electronics	Soldering
Textiles	Mixed Media Bag Project	Sustainability and the environment	Colour application	Print techniques	Construction skills	Bag assembly
Graphics	Board Game and Packaging	CAD/CAM	Sublimation Printing	3D Printing	Nets

KS4

At KS4 pupils have the opportunity to follow Design and Technology courses to examination level, we currently offer GCSE’s in the following subjects:

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY: SPECIALISING IN RESISTANT MATERIALS (AQA)

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY: SPECIALISING IN GRAPHICS (AQA)

Assessment for the above GCSE’s is the same and made up of Two units of work.

Assessment will be made up of 2 units of work.

Unit 1: Non-exam assessment – 50% of the final mark. This will take the form of a coursework assignment. The theme will be chosen from a list set by the exam board. Students will produce a working prototype and a portfolio of evidence (maximum 20 pages).

Unit 2: Examination – 50% of the final mark. This will be a written exam lasting 2 hours (100 marks) and broken down into 3 sections:

Section A: Core technical principles (20 marks).

Section B: Specialist technical principles (30 marks).

Section C: Designing and making principles (50 marks).

FOOD PREPARATION AND NUTRITION (EDUQAS)

Assessment Procedures:

A written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes, this contributes to 50% of the qualification

There are two pieces of controlled assessment which contribute to 50% of the course.

Assessment 1: The Food Investigation Assessment A scientific food investigation which will assess the learner’s knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to scientific principles underlying the preparation and cooking of food.

Assessment 2: The Food Preparation Assessment Prepare, cook and present a menu which assesses the learner’s knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking and presentation of food.

ART TEXTILES (AQA)

Assessment Procedures:

Component 1: Portfolio = 60% of GCSE

A portfolio that in total shows coverage of the four assessment objectives. It will include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial starting point to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment = 40% of GCSE – Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time

Pupils respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives.

How we assess

Assessment at KS3

Pupils will have a practical and theory-based assessment for each of the subject areas in Technology ( Graphics, Textiles, Resistant Materials and Textiles. In addition to these assessments pupils will also sit and end of year examination in June covering topics from each of the four areas of Technology. All assessment grades are recorded and then averaged to provide and end of year grade for Technology

Subject specific websites to support independent learning and revision

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

www.technologystudent.com

www.aqa.org.uk

www.eduqas.co.uk

Trips & Visits

During the course of the academic year the Technology Department run a number of trips to enrich pupils learning and understanding of the subject.

Our Year 9 and 10 girls have attended the annual Women in Industry Day at Halesowen College. During the day they had the chance to experience a diverse range of practical engineering skills including: Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Plumbing, Carpentry and Joinery and Electrical engineering.

Year 10 pupils studying Graphics and Resistant Materials have been able to visit BOSS Design, designers and manufacturers of high-end chairs and office furniture. Pupils were able to experience all areas of the factory from design, development, manufacturing and distribution. Year 10 pupils were able to get hands on with a range of manufacturing processes to help assemble some of the furniture items within the factory.

Year 10 and 11 Art & Design Textiles pupils have been on a visit to London taking in the Vitoria and Albert Museum where they were able to see how fashion has changed over the last 100 years. Next stop was the Natural History Museum where pupils were able to gather a range of first-hand sources to assist them with their current Textiles project based on Natural Forms. In the afternoon pupils were able to explore the wide range of retail outlets within Covent Garden. Pupils have also been to Oxford Natural History Museum to gather further first-hand sources and attend a lecture on generating a sketchbook

For a number of years the Food Technology Department have hosted the Rotary Young Chef of the Year Competition. The standard of entry is always very high with all pupils designing and cooking a three-course menu to a fixed budget within a very limited time frame.

Knowledge Organisers

Year 7

Year 7 Technology Knowledge Organiser

Year 8

Year 8 Technology Knowledge Organiser

Year 9

Year 9 Textiles Knowledge Organiser

Year 9 RM/Graphics Organiser

Year 9 Food Knowledge Organiser

Year 10/11

RM / Graphics Knowledge Organiser

Year 11 Food Knowledge Organiser