Year Group Information

Design & Technology

Who are we?

​Head of Department – Mr M Nicholson

Teachers – Ms L Bulsara, Miss L Matley, Mr J Morris, Ms A Nimblet-Robinson, Mrs L Stevenson

Senior Technician, Technology – Mr C Jarratt

Technician, Technology – Mr P Fisher

What do we do?

Design & Technology (Key Stage 3)

At Key Stage 3, students in years 7 to 9 rotate through a range of modules that cover the national curriculum for Design and Technology.  This involves students in designing, making and using a range of materials and components.  They are taught to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of materials, processes and principles. These are applied to the designing and making of products and systems, problem solving and to the evaluation of the products and processes of their own and other people’s work.  The final term in Year 9 allows students begin their KS4 course, as learners are assigned to their option groups.

Curriculum Intent

In D&T – NHTS students design and make high-quality prototypes, across a wide range of material areas.

Our curriculum is built upon the skills and knowledge found in the creative, technical, and practical expertise required to manufacture a range of innovative products – that ultimately meet the user’s needs.

We therefore believe that ALL of our students should be encouraged to critique, evaluate and test their prototypes – in order to successfully understand and contribute to a sustainable and technological world.

Curriculum Map

Click here to view the department curriculum map.

Constructing the Built Environment

Level 1/ Level 2 Vocational Award

Exam Board: WJEC Eduqas

This qualification is worth one GCSE and comprises of three units, with two being an external online exam, and one unit being an internal extended assignment.  Unit 1 (Safety & Security in Construction), and Unit 3 (Planning Construction Projects) are taught in Year 10 of the course, as students will sit the online exams in June. Students will have another opportunity to re sit these exams in the February of Year 11, in order to improve their grades.

Unit 2 (Developing Construction Projects) is an extended assignment, which is taught in Y11. Students are given a brief which focuses on the refurbishment a house, whereby they can choose to extend their learning on 3 pre taught skills, from the following list; Joinery, Brickwork, Plastering, Plumbing, Decoration, and Tiling.

Curriculum Intent

In this vocational subject – NHTS students are provided with genuine work – related learning, by a plan, do, and review approach, by being given the opportunity to learn some fundamental tradesperson skills.

Our curriculum is built upon the skills and knowledge found within the following ‘hands – on’ applications; joinery, brickwork, plumbing, electrical, plastering, decoration, tiling. These applications ALL have an impact on a diverse range of stakeholders, within the industry referred to as the ‘BUILT ENVIRONMENT’.

We therefore believe that ALL of our students should be encouraged to explore what it is like to work in the construction industry (by forging close links with local colleges and businesses) –  via this vocational work based subject.

GCSE Design & Technology (Key Stage 4)

Exam Board: AQA

This qualification is worth one GCSE and comprises of one NEA (non – examination assessment), and one external exam. Each unit is worth 50% of the overall course.

Unit 2 (NEA) is an extended assignment, whereby the context is set by the exam board at the end of Y10, which allows the learners to work on the design and make activity across Y11. Students are given a contextual challenge by way of a brief which focuses on the process of iterative design. The students are then expected to produce a working prototype (along with all additional research, design and evaluation evidence), within a 40-hour period. Students sit unit 1 (exam) in the June of Y11.

Curriculum Map

Click here to view the department curriculum map.

Useful Documents

Engineering

Level 1/ Level 2 Vocational Award

Exam Board: Edexcel

This qualification is worth one GCSE and comprises of three components, with two being an internal assignment, and one being an external exam.  Component 3 (Responding to an Engineering Brief) is taught in Year 10 of the course, as students will sit the exam in June. Students will have another opportunity to re sit the exam in the February of Year 11, in order to improve their grades.

Components 1 and 2 (Exploring Engineering Sectors and Design Applications and Investigating an Engineering Project respectively) are extended internal assignments, which are taught in both Y10 and Y11. Students are given an authorised assignment brief as set out by the exam board, whereby they are tasked to extend their prior learning by way of demonstrating their understanding of not only the industry sector as a whole, but by also demonstrating their acquired practical skills to a high level of expertise.

Curriculum Intent

In this vocational subject – NHTS students design and manufacture a range of innovative products, by developing a firm understanding of  how each of the engineering sectors interlink.

Our curriculum is built upon the skills and knowledge found in the ability to disassemble, re – design, and manufacture a range of engineered products, both independently, and in a team.

We therefore believe that ALL of our students should be encouraged to explore what it is like to be a ‘real engineer’ via this vocational work based subject.

Curriculum Map

Click here to view the department curriculum map.

Useful Documents

Health & Social Care

Level 1/ Level 2 Vocational Award

Exam Board: Edexcel

This qualification is worth one GCSE and comprises of three components, with two being an internal assignment, and one being an external exam.  Component 3 (Health and Wellbeing) is taught in Year 10 of the course, as students will sit the exam in June. Students will have another opportunity to re sit the exam in the February of Year 11, in order to improve their grades.

Components 1 and 2 (Human Lifespan Development and Health and Social Care Services and Values respectively) are extended internal assignments, which are taught in both Y10 and Y11. Students are given an authorised assignment brief as set out by the exam board, whereby they are tasked to extend their prior learning by way of demonstrating their understanding of not only the industry sector as a whole, but by also demonstrating their acquired practical skills to a high level of expertise.

Curriculum Intent

In H&SC – our students learn to recognize the specific needs of individuals, and how they can develop their own practice to support people from all walks of life.

Our curriculum is built upon the requirements to build compassionate and ethically minded learners, who are skilled in applying their knowledge of the various life stages and events – to support people with their health and mental well being.

We therefore believe that ALL of our students should be encouraged to explore and reflect on their own communication skills, and their practice of care values within given scenarios, with a view to furthering their careers in either the Health, Social, or Education system.

Useful Documents

Hospitality & Catering

Level 1/ Level 2 Vocational Award

Exam Board: WJEC Eduqas

This qualification is worth one GCSE and comprises of two units, with one (Unit 1: The Hospitality and Catering Industry) being an external exam, and one unit (Unit 2: Hospitality & Catering in Action) being an internal extended assignment.  Unit 1 is taught in Year 10 of the course, as students will sit the external exam in June. Students will have another opportunity to re sit this exam in the February of Year 11, in order to improve their grades.

Unit 2 is an extended assignment, which is taught in both Y10 and Y11. Students are given an authorised assignment brief as set out by the exam board, whereby they are tasked to extend their prior learning by way of demonstrating their understanding of not only the industry sector as a whole, but by also demonstrating their acquired practical skills to a high level of expertise.

Curriculum Intent

In this vocational subject – NHTS students follow a course that  promotes and supports learners in their understanding of this sector of employment, in a work based environment.

Our curriculum is built upon the skills and knowledge found in the ability to research and make high-quality dishes, using a wide range of ingredients and equipment.

We therefore believe that ALL of our students should be encouraged to develop the skills required to manufacture a range of innovative products that will support their progression to further learning and employment.

Curriculum Map

Click here to view the department curriculum map.

 

Consistency

Planning of lessons are linked to department skills assessments, which allow for consistent and challenging metacognition to be embedded within each focus area.

Student feedback, in the form of regular marking, challenges the students to extend their learning, with a view to firmly and consistently embedding high order thinking skills.

Schemes of learning are regularly and consistently reviewed through recall and retrieval activities, so that students feel confident in their gained knowledge and understanding.

Closing the Gaps

Revision guides are developed and purchased by each department, to allow the students extend their learning outside of the classroom environment.

The school VLE (Frog) allows students to have access to a range of differentiated resources, to extend the students learning experience beyond the school day.

Students are mentored and supported at KS4, whereby the department internal ‘Quadrant Monitoring Board’ is used to monitor the performances of individual cohorts of learners.

Out of school hour’s intervention/ enrichment sessions are provided and delivered on a weekly basis for Y11 students, where the focus is on targeted cohorts of learners, and their specific needs for support.

Community

We work closely with a number of trust partners, in particular Cummins Turbo Technologies in Huddersfield. The Engineering department in particular is proud of the fact that students aspire to do well in their studies, with a firm focus on extending their learning at KS5 and beyond, either at college or via an apprenticeship.

We collaborate within the wider school community through STEM delivered projects, with a view to encouraging learners to develop an understanding of how they can develop a social and environmental awareness, in this rapidly changing world, with a particular focus on sustainability. Indeed, all students are encouraged to learn how to take risks, by becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.

It is through Design & Technology that many of our young people are given the most effective channel to think about the future of the world around them.   D&T prepares students to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies, by learning to think creatively at an early age. 

Andy Mitchell

Assistant Chief Executive, DATA (Design & Technology Association)