Curriculum
Design technology
Why study Design Technology?
Design Technology enables pupils to identify, consider and solve problems through creative thinking, planning and design and by working with different resources, materials, and tools. As a result, pupils gain technical and design awareness, and develop skills such as initiative, resourcefulness, enquiry and ingenuity.
Design Technology is in ever more demand in today’s 21st century, where practical skills are highly valued, and many individuals choose to run their own businesses and create their own products.
Studying this subject, in its unique and differential ways, allows for pupils to apply general knowledge and turn everyday activities into useful learning strategies.
How will I study Design Technology?
Pupils study Design Technology through project-based tasks. The curriculum teaches pupils to think creatively, and it encourages them to solve problems in innovative ways. They will use an iterative design process, in textiles, food and design technology. They will learn how electronic systems work and how to manufacture products that meet the needs of others. They will analyse and engage with existing materials and equipment including laser cutters, 3D printers, sewing machines and kitchenware. Pupils will utilise CAD/CAM technology and learn how they could apply their understanding in various situations. They will demonstrate their skills to solve problems, design systems and understand human and machine intelligence. Pupils will learn how to apply their knowledge and understanding to solve real-world problems in an exciting and engaging way. Ultimately, pupils become confident, competent, and creative designers who can think critically within a range of contexts.
What will I study at key stage 3?
Pupils will analyse and explore existing products in order to develop their creative thinking and design skills. They will work to design briefs in all areas of Design Technology and develop products that address the needs of others.
During Year 7, pupils will learn how to use CAD design and manufacturing to create their own product, and learn a variety of different sketching and 3D drawing techniques. In food, they will learn to build an understanding of healthy eating, food hygiene, where food comes from, seasonality and the importance of minimising waste. Within textiles, they will learn to use hand sewing equipment and learn how fabrics and fibres are constructed, as well as different decoration techniques.
During Year 8, pupils will design and make a lightbox, building on their CAD skills and learn how to create circuits. In food they will study the nutritional needs of others, how raising agents work and gain more confidence in cooking independently. Pupils will also learn to confidently use the sewing machine, decoration techniques and how to create one off designs.
During Year 9, pupils will explore foods cooked in different cultures, become more independent in practical sessions and learn more about cooking methods, food storage and nutritional analysis. They will explore various textiles techniques used in the industry and study the impact of fast fashion in textiles as well as developing their CAD skills, with both 2D and 3D work, to make their own product and learn more about sustainability and how designs can improve this.
What will I study at key stage 4?
At KS4, pupils can choose to study Food and Nutrition as part of the Design Technology curriculum. The knowledge and skills that have been acquired during Design Technology provide a strong foundation for this qualification. Food and Nutrition allows pupils to:
- understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health
- cook a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
- become competent in a range of cooking techniques (for example, selecting and preparing ingredients)
- use utensils and electrical equipment
- apply heat in different ways
- use awareness of taste, texture and smell to decide how to season dishes and combine ingredients
- adapt and use their own recipes
- understand the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients.
Pupils will complete two pieces of coursework, one on food science investigations, and the other on a set theme, where they explore and develop their own dishes. There is also a written exam to demonstrate their knowledge.
Assessment at key stage 4
Year 10 – NCFE Level 1 / 2 Technical Award in Food and Cookery
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
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Unit 1 Externally set written exam- 1 hour 30 minutes. A mixture of multiple choice, short- answer, and extended response questions. 40% of the final grade |
Principles of food safety, nutrition, and food choice. You will learn about basic food safety and safe and hygienic food preparation. You will be introduced to healthy eating guidelines and the factors that affect food choice. You will learn how to make food recommendations for specific groups of people, based on their age, gender and other dietary needs. You will also learn how to analyse information on food labels to make decisions about the nutritional content of packaged food. |
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
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Unit 2- Supervised project- approx. 16 hours. 60% of the final grade. This is done in lesson time including both practical and written work. |
Developing preparation and cooking skills. This unit looks at how to prepare and plan for food and cookery. You will learn about recipes, the functions of ingredients and how to amend and develop recipes. You will learn how to prepare dishes for different people and occasions and how to respond to a set brief, including how to create accurate time plans. You will learn how to review and evaluate your menu, planning, preparation and completed dishes. |
Year 11 – AQA Food Preparation and Nutrition 8585
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Component 1: Non Exam Assessments (NEA) – 50% including 3 hour practical exam. | Task 1. Food science investigation. This is worth 15% of the final grade. Students carry out investigations based on a set recipe or ingredients and analyse the results. Students have to write a report including photographic evidence of the practical investigation. Task 2. Food preparation task. This is worth 35% of the final grade Students will research, plan and cook 3 dishes based on a given theme. As part of this they complete a 3 hour practical exam, as well as a written report and planning their own dishes. Marks are awarded for both written and practical tasks and the quality of dishes produced and the skills demonstrated. |
| Overview | Focus |
|---|---|
| Component 2: Written exam- 50% | Externally assessed exam worth 50% of the GCSE. This is a mixture of short and long answer questions. The main areas of study are food preparation skills, nutrition and health, food science, food safety, food choice and food provenance. |
Enrichment
The faculty offers subject-specific enrichment clubs and pupils are able to use the school’s specialist design resources. Pupils are also able to develop their curiosity with weekly textiles and art clubs.
Careers
The study of Design Technology in resistant materials, food and textiles can lead to future study and professions such as Software Game Developer, Chef, Nutritional Therapist, Art Curator, Graphic Designer and all areas of Engineering.