Design & Technology

As a team we all enjoy classes where learning is active and students can enjoy the practical element of the curriculum. Our Key Stage 3 curriculum embeds skills and knowledge that will allow students clear progression at GCSE level.

Year 7

Students are taught in mixed ability classes and enjoy one lesson of Technology and one lesson of Food and Nutrition on a weekly basis.

There is a strong focus on being safe in the Technology rooms and core skills focus strongly so that expectations are clear for all, these range from understanding how to use the Pillar drill safely to learning the bridge grip for cutting vegetables.

Technology projects include:

• Introduction to the workshops – Tea light holder
• Textiles introduction – Cushion Cover
• A focus on practical skills – Money Box Design
• An introduction into batch production – Pewter Casting

Food and Nutrition topics/recipes include:

• The Eat well guide
• What is a balanced diet
• Product analysis
• Chopping Skills
• Lamb Koftas
• Fruit salad
• Healthy muffins

Year 8

Students are taught in mixed ability classes and have one lesson of Technology and one lesson of Food and Nutrition on a weekly basis.

Technology projects develop on core skills whilst introducing new topics and materials to the curriculum, all of our projects have been developed to ensure that every student is able to enjoy success through a variety of practical outcomes.

Technology Projects include:

• Colour changing night light
• Desk tidy device
• Recycled bag

Food and Nutrition topics/recipes include:

• Macro-nutrients/Micro-nutrients
• Balanced diet
• Macaroni cheese
• Sauce making
• Pasta salad
• Cake making techniques

Year 9

Students are taught on a rotation and benefit from double lessons of Technology and Food and Nutrition, this allows students to spend more time on a practical tasks and develop complex, creative dishes and designs

Technology projects focus on new technologies whilst ensuring that traditional skills are not forgotten. Projects include:

• Picture frame
• Book/DVD storage
• USB light
• T-Shirt upcycling

Food and Nutrition ensures that students have the technical and theoretical skills to bridge the gap to GCSE, topics taught in year 9 link directly to the GCSE syllabus

Food and Nutrition topics/recipes include:

• Ethics in Food
• Food Provenance
• Environmental issues in Food
• Pastry Making
• Pasta dishes
• Eggs and Colloidal structures

In the Summer term year 9 students take part in an enterprise project – this is a team design challenge that involves the students batch producing items to sell at a year six transition day, last academic year saw the students basing their products on themes linked to countries participating in the World Cup.

Year 10

Students are able to choose AQA GCSE Design & Technology or AQA GCSE Food and Nutrition. All courses contain an element of Non-Examined-Assessment and focus on theoretical knowledge, skills and application. There is less of a focus on practical work for the final assessment however wherever possible subject knowledge is taught with a practical focus.

The AQA Technology syllabus covers content that includes:

• Energy generation
• Energy storage
• Modern materials
• Smart Materials
• Composite materials and technical textiles
• Systems approach to designing
• Electronic systems processing
• Mechanical devices
• Selection of materials and components
• Working with electronic components
• Commercial manufacturing and quality control
• Sources, origins and properties.
• Working with polymer based materials
• Commercial manufacturing and quality control

AQA Food and Nutrition syllabus covers content that includes:

• Food Preparation
• Food Science
• Food Nutrition and Health
• Food Choice
• Food Safety
• Food Provenance
• Food and the environment

Links to both courses are below:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/food/gcse/food-preparation-and-nutrition-8585

Year 11

In Technology the autumn and spring term are spent completing the Non-Examined Assessment this is a contextual challenge that is set by the exam board every year. On completion of the NEA, the remainder of year 11 curriculum time is spent bridging learning gaps, revision and preparing for the summer exam.

We are currently running the last year of the VCert Food qualification, students will sit their exam in November (Exploring balanced diets) and then will work to deadlines to complete the other three pieces of coursework titled:

• Preparing to cook
• Understanding food
• Plan and produce dishes in response to a brief