Design & Technology
Who are we?
Head of Department – Mr M Nicholson
Teachers – Mrs K Elgie & Mrs M van den Heever
Senior Technician, Technology – Mr C Jarratt
Technician, Technology – Mr P Fisher
Key Stage 3
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
ALL D&T students follow a work-related curriculum, whereby they are given the opportunity to learn some fundamental trade skills, via the bespoke CREATE program of learning.
CREATE underpins the skills and knowledge found within the following ‘hands-on’ applications; Construction (TRADE SCHOOL),Rapid prototyping, Engineering, Auto mechanics, Technological emerging trends, and the
Embracement of cultural diversity within Hospitality & Catering.
We therefore believe that ALL of our students should be given the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a VOCATIONAL SECTOR, by forging links with local colleges, industries, and NHTS trust partners.
Curriculum Map
Click here to view the department curriculum map.
Key Stage 4 GCSE Design & Technology
Exam Board: AQA
Lead Teacher: Mrs K Elgie
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 Year 10, which allows the learners to work on the design and make activity across Year 11. 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 Year 11.
Curriculum Map
Click here to view the department curriculum map.
Useful Documents
What is D&T
D&T Career Pathways
D&T Transferable Skills
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.