Head of Design & Technology – Gemma Postings

Email – postingsg@hanson.org.uk

2nd in Department – Kerry Simpson

Email – simpsonk3@hanson.org.uk

We believe that students deserve a Design & technology curriculum which prepares them for the world they live in.

Design and technology gives young people the skills and abilities to engage positively with the designed and made world.  They learn how products and systems are designed and manufactured, how to be innovative and to make creative use of a variety of resources including traditional and digital technologies, to improve the world around them.

We thrive to provide opportunities, which allow students to develop a knowledge of a range of technology areas in KS3 including; Product Design, Textiles and Food Technology. Students should grow in confidence through dedicated teaching environments, manufacturing equipment and specialist teaching.

At the centre of the subject is creativity and imagination. Design & Technology is a subject which draws, develops and implements a range of different disciplines including mathematics, science, engineering, computing, geography, business studies and art. The subject embeds high quality literacy skills through analysis and evaluation techniques.

As students’ progress to KS4 they can choose an area within Design & Technology to study. In the chosen area, the subject allows for deeper study of the world they live in, potential career opportunities and with the skills developed at KS3 the confidence to task risks, become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. The subjects encourages students to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems, within a variety of contexts, while considering their own and other’s needs, wants and values.

We offer a variety of different options within Design & Technology including:

In this qualification students will be taught about:

Core Technical Principles – In order to make effective design choices students will need a breadth of core technical knowledge and understanding that consists of:

Specialist Technical Principles – In addition to the core technical principles, all students should develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the following specialist technical principles:

Design & Making Principles – Students should know and understand that all design and technology activities take place within a wide range of contexts. They should also understand how the prototypes they develop must satisfy wants or needs and be fit for their intended use. For example, the home, school, work or leisure.

They will need to demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of designing and making principles in relation to the following areas:

They will undertake 2 units:

NEA Coursework Unit

This consists of a substantial design and make task in response to a contextual challenges to be released annually by AQA on 1 June in the year prior to the submission of the NEA.

Written Exam

A 2 hour written exam (worth 50% of the final grade) covering:

Section A – Core technical principles (20 marks)

A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions assessing a breadth of technical knowledge and understanding.

Section B – Specialist technical principles (30 marks)

Several short answer questions (2–5 marks) and one extended response to assess a more in depth knowledge of technical principles.

Section C – Designing and making principles (50 marks)

A mixture of short answer and extended response questions.

Link to specifications – AQA | Design and Technology | GCSE | Design and Technology

Revision – GCSE Design and Technology – AQA – BBC Bitesize

This qualification is made up of 3 units.

Unit 1 – Manufacturing Engineering Products

You will have the opportunity to interpret different types of engineering information in order to plan how to manufacture engineering products.

You will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in using a range of engineering tools and equipment in order to manufacture and test a final product.

Unit 1 will involve producing a manufacturing product, which will be worth 40% of the qualification. This can range from a basic hand tool to complex machinery. The product will need to be developed over 20 hours.

Unit 2 – Designing Engineering Products

You will explore how an engineered product is adapted and improved over time. It offers the opportunity to apply your knowledge and understanding to adapt an existing component, element or part of the product that you will have manufactured for Unit 1.

Unit 2 will also be assessed through project work and will be worth 20% of the qualification. Here
you will apply your problem-solving skills to answer a brief and produce a solution. You will
produce your solution over 10 hours.

Unit 3 – Solving Engineering Problems

You will be introduced to a range of considerations that impact on engineering design and how modern
engineering has had an impact on modern day life at home, work and in society in general.

Unit 3 will involve a single exam, which is worth 40% of your qualification. The exam will last 1 hour
and 30 minutes. The exam will be made up of multiple-choice questions, and short and extended
answers.

Link to specifications – Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Engineering (wjec.co.uk)

This qualification is made up of 2 units.

Unit 1 – The Hospitality & Catering Industry

In this unit you will learn about the hospitality and catering industry, the types of hospitality and catering providers and about working in the industry. You will also learn about health and safety, and food safety in hospitality and catering, as well as food related causes of ill health.

This unit is assessed by a written exam – 40%

Unit 2 – Hospitality & Catering in Action

In this unit you will about the importance of nutrition and how cooking methods can impact on nutritional value. You will also learn how to plan nutritious menus as well as factors which affect menu planning. You will learn the skills and techniques needed to prepare, cook and present dishes as well as learning how to review your work effectively.

In this unit the assessment consists of an assignment where you will plan and prepare a menu in response to a brief. This will be worth 60% of your qualification and will take 12 hours.

Link to specifications – Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering (wjec.co.uk)