Design & Tech

Introduction

Have you ever wondered …

Have you ever wondered what designers actually do?
Have you ever wondered how things move or work?
Have you ever wondered how you can design products to be good for the environment?
Have you ever wondered how a product continues to stay popular in the market place?
Have you ever wondered how products are designed with the user in mind?

In Design and Technology students explore design ideas and develop their creative potential across a range of material areas; including Food Technology, Graphics, Resistant Materials and Product Design.

We encourage innovative independent thinking, communication and problem solving – key skills, which will be of benefit for the rest of their lives. Our aims are to encourage all our students to participate in and discover how to appreciate our technological society. This is a very “hands on” subject with lots of practical work, where students can gain satisfaction from realising designs they have created. Students regularly comment on the enjoyment they had in a lesson. Students build a large skill and knowledge base from working with a wide range of materials, tools and equipment.

Contact details

Please contact the Head of Department for more information. A full teaching staff list can be found under 'About Us' 'Staff and Governance'.

Head of Department: Mr O Scullion Email: oisin.scullion@ccfplus.com

What your child will be learning (curriculum mapping)

To view the modules studied in Food Technology at KS3, please click here.

To view the modules studied in Food Technology at KS4, please click here.

To view the modules studied in Graphics and Textiles each term, please click here.

To view the modules studied in Product Design each term, please click here.

To view the modules studied in Robotics and Coding each term, please click here.

To see a suggested reading list for Resistant Materials, please click here.

Aims and enrichment

Aims

Design & Technology is a diverse subject and can open gateways to a wealth of career opportunities. It develops and encourages self-reliance, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills which are all central to successful employment. Universities offer many opportunities for those wishing to take Design & Technology further with courses focusing on Product Design, Architecture, Engineering, Industrial Design, Interior Design and Graphic Design.

Enrichment

We regularly enter students into a variety of competitions including Young Inventor of the Year and Young Chef. Our students have been very successful and we have won prizes in the categories of Resistant Materials, Graphics, Product Design and Young Chef. We promote the use of new technologies and encourage the use of our hi-spec laser cutter and 3d Printer which is used within the department and also by robotics and STEM.

Key stage 3

At KS3 level students study the four subject disciplines of Food Technology, Graphics and Product Design and Robotics and Technical Drawing over an 8-9 week carousel with an introduction of the design process, learning the core skills of any Design & Technology area. Each project is planned to challenge with designing and making tasks in line with the current National Curriculum guidelines. They all promote and encourage students to be innovative, creative thinkers and the ability to develop ideas.

Year 7

Product Design; Toy Truck design, make and test project. The focus of the project is teaching students all about Health and Safety, working to best practice, understanding technical drawings and working with materials (wood). The theory of materials and manufacturing is embedded within the practical making of the product using our outstanding facilities and workshop. The toy truck will be made accurately and precisely following a technical drawing, it will have an applied finish, be assembled and then finally tested. Success criteria are: Aesthetics and performance; how far and how straight the truck travels.

Graphics; Logo Design Project- Introduction to the basics of Graphic Design through logo making. The focus of the project is to introduce the basics of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) using 2D Design software, understanding branding and isometric drawing. Students will be guided on in-depth research and demonstrate creativity by designing innovative ideas for a food company. Success criteria are: How much the students have applied the learnt theories on their final logo design.

Food Technology; the focus of this year is to encourage sound food hygiene, safety and basic cookery skills; as well as a brief exploration of different cultures. Students will be taught new cookery techniques such as knife skills, creaming, whisking, kneading and rubbing-in, to make a variety of dishes such as Sausage rolls, Small cakes, Scones and Pizza's. This will enable students to become independent and also creative in their choice of ingredients.

Robotics and Technical drawing; exploring the development of new technologies and applications of automation. Understanding the rapid change moving away from manual to fully computer numerically controlled systems. Looking at the affect on society, morals and ethics behind the loss of lower skilled job roles to robots. Learning the basics of fine technical drawing and the importance to work with precision in design and manufacturing.

Year 8

Product Design; Mechanical bird project. The focus in this topic; mechanical systems. In mechanical systems the theory behind levers, motion and linkages is taught, with pupils constructing a linkage toy. The students will be furthering their knowledge of Health and Safety and working to best practice, as machine tools will be introduced to them. Finally, after extensive research students will be customising their birds aesthetics to ensure they are innovative and meet their target audiences needs and wants.

Graphics; Packaging Project. The focus of this project; packaging design. In Packaging, the theory on papers, boards and Packaging is taught, with students constructing their Nets to build into a 3-Dimensional packaging. The students will further explore branding and British standards for food packaging. Success Criteria: Students’ application of design ideas, understanding of graphical skills, and NET construction on CAD.

Food Technology; the emphasis this year is on nutrition and healthy eating in relation to the Eatwell Guide. The students make a variety of dishes including Vegetable cakes, Pasta salad, Stir fry and Spanakopita. They are encouraged to modify a given recipe in order to make it healthier and to comment on the nutritional changes made. New culinary techniques are taught and the students become more confident and creative.

Robotics and Technical drawing; exploring how the development of new technologies and applications of automation affect reliability and repeatability (quality control). Developing their understanding of the rapid change moving away from manual to fully computer numerically controlled systems. Starting to learn coding and programming of Vex 123 Robots. Experimenting and overcoming task challenges in simulation and real life. Developing an appreciation and skill for more advance technical drawing and applying to real life design.

Year 9

Product Design; Mobile phones for the future using biomimicry. Students will follow an industry standard design process to gain a sound understanding of iterative design which eliminates design fixation and to understand the importance of refining a product throughout the development stages. Looking at where mobile phones originated from and carrying out an existing products analysis students will gain enough knowledge to start designing their own. Using biomimicry (nature to inspire design) will add a unique selling point to their designs as well as helping with problem solving.

Graphics; Eyewear Project. The focus of the project; eyewear design. Eyewear design covers the basic principles of eyeglasses, including the appropriate part label, materials, how to target market and transfer hand drawing on CAD (Computer-aided design) software and Google Sketch Up. Success Criteria: students’ will design their eyeglass from thumbnail drawings to a physical prototype of acrylic plastic or manufactured board.

Food Technology; the aim this year is on food poisoning and HACCP, sustainability and Me Size Meals; as well as high level skill requirements, preparing them for GCSE's. The students prepare & make a number of savoury meals including Quesadillas, Pasta bake, Fruit pies and Doughnut Muffins; so that they become competent cooks with excellent skills for life.

Robotics and Technical drawing; Developing coding and programming skills and build/ assembly of Vex Pro Robots, with the potential to compete internationally. Experimenting and overcoming task challenges in simulation and real life. Learning about systems and control; Input, process, output using switches, sensors, motors etc. Developing drawing skills further to complete a full orthographic drawing with dimensions, tolerances whilst being to scale.

Key stage 4

Exam Board: AQA

Product Design Year 10

Year 10 focuses on core practical skills and theoretical knowledge. In class pupils carry out three mini projects which build on the different principles of product design; Designer influence, product analysis/ development/ iterative design/ Manufacturing techniques and testing. They will build up a portfolio of skills and samples ready to equip them in their controlled assessment. These skills include using CAD/CAM accompanied with our state-of-the-art laser cutter, 3D printer and special equipment. For homework they undertake several research projects, covering the theory content of the course. The controlled assessment is started in the Summer term and is submitted before the exam season.

Product Design Year 11

Pupils continue working on their controlled assessment until February half term. This involves the preparation of an electronic folder together with a Graphic/ Resistant Materials product. From February half term the focus is on examination preparation. Throughout the course students continue to develop a working knowledge of materials and components, new technologies and ICT skills using software such as Adobe Illustrator and Google SketchUp. Students who are Independent learners with a creative and problem-solving mindset thrive in this subject. The GCSE in Product Design is based on 50% controlled assessment and 50% two hour written examination

Food Preparation and Nutrition Year 10

Food Technology uses the AQA Examination Board and the recommended text book is “Food Preparation & Nutrition” Anita Tull (Illuminate publishing) as well as “Food Preparation & Nutrition”. “My revision notes”, (Hodder Education).

Food Technology uses the AQA Examination Board and the recommended text book is “Food Preparation & Nutrition'' CGP Complete Revision Guide. In the first two terms of year 10, pupils will develop their culinary skills, knowledge and understanding of a wide range of ingredients, through practical’s that relate and embed their understanding of the theory; Science of Food, Nutrition, Food Provenance, Sustainability and Food Choice.

Pupils will also begin their first NEA controlled assessment piece in the summer term, a scientific investigation.

Food Preparation and Nutrition Year 11

Pupils continue with their NEA1 at the beginning of the year, with completion before Christmas. Year 11 then focuses on NEA 2, including a scenario which the pupils will base 3 dishes from, to be cooked in 3 hours. NEA2 includes elements of; research, nutrition, sensory analysis, and the building of their skills. Alongside their NEA's Year 11 pupils will continue to develop their understanding of the subject ready to sit their exam (1hr 45 minutes) in the summer term. They are assessed 50% NEA and 50% written exam.

Syllabus information obtainable through examination board websites at:

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