Welcome to the Information and Design Technology Faculty
Our Faculty comprises two departments, Information Technology and Computing and Design Technology (I&DT). I&DT equips students with an understanding of the technological world in which we live and seeks to inspire them to use this technology to change and improve the lives of themselves and others. Students particularly enjoy the freedom to express their creativity in I&DT. Particular emphasis is given to safe working practices in all areas in all years.
Design Technology Key Stage 3, Years 7 to 9
Design Technology comprises three projects running for approximately 12 weeks each on a carousel basis. All students will study Design Technology through the following courses in the contexts of Food Technology, Product Design and Textiles Technology.
Year 7
Product Design
To establish strong practical and design skills, students produce a wide range of mini projects.
They learn about Computer Aided Design (CAD) while making a key-ring with their own computer engraving, the thermoforming properties of polymers while line bending acrylics to make a picture stand and vacuum forming a mirror frame from polystyrene sheet. They use hand tools and machines while designing and making a wooden sculpture to give them an appreciation of the working properties of timber. They enjoy using SketchupTM to design a house and watch in fascination as the 3D printer produces their designs.
Food Technology
Students learn about healthy and nutritious meals and a balanced diet. They learn to use a range of preparation and cooking techniques with different ingredients, such as knife skills, boiling frying, grilling, and disassembling existing food products while designing their own healthy salad.
Textiles Technology
Students develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of Textiles by designing and making a Jewellery or Make-up “Roll” type bag. Students learn to use hand and machine stitching, the use of applied decoration and the importance of accurate sizes with textiles.
Year 8
Product Design
Mechanisms and Control. – All students study the uses of mechanisms as part of control systems. They express this by designing and making their own mechanical toy, developing celebration cards with a mechanical feature and exploring the control and uses of robots.
Food Technology
Students explore the role of Party/Celebration food with the theme of the “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” from “Alice in Wonderland”. All students produce a range of sweet and savoury dishes in preparation for their design of a dish suitable for the “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party”.
Textiles Technology
Students develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of Textiles by designing and making a range of cushions based on a theme of their choice.
They use fabric paint to create colour, include machine appliqué and hand embroidery in their design. They also design a corporate logo and marketing tools for their product.
Year 9
Design Technology comprises five projects running for approximately eight weeks each on a carousel basis. All students will study Design Technology through the following courses in the contexts of Food Technology, Product Design and Textiles Technology. These contexts provide a route into GCSE Courses at Key Stage 4.
Powered MP3 Speakers – Product Design
Students design and make their own MP3 speakers using a MindsetsTM circuit board and a pair of speakers. They need to solve many different practical problems and complete a high quality product in the limited time available.
Italian Cook/Chill meal – Food Technology
Ready-meals or cook/chill food is a product available in all supermarkets. Students are set the task of a supermarket chain wanting to introduce a new Italian pasta range. They make a number of classic Italian meals to prepare themselves for the task of designing their own cook/chill meal.
Layered Desserts – Food Technology
Making a high quality layered dessert is a test of many a chef. Students design and make (and test thoroughly!) a delicious, restaurant standard, dessert with the context of being made for an exclusive airline to serve to its celebrity guests.
Designing with embellishing techniques – Textiles Technology
Students learn the skills of applying a wide range of embellishing techniques to products that will appeal to different customers. This module uses the Mors bag as a basis for students to express their own designs.
Mors Bag - Construction – Textiles Technology
The Mors bag is a design classic, testing students’ textiles construction skills and their ability to solve problems under pressure.
Key Stage 4
At KS4, we aim to offer every student the opportunity to face the technical and creative challenges that are possible in Design Technology. We currently offer GCSE Textiles and GCSE Food Technology, both of which have proved very successful and we intend to add to these OCR’s GCSE Product Design course in September 2013 with an emphasis on Resistant Materials (wood, metals, plastics) and Graphic Products. For further details see the exam boards’ website, http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-design-and-technology-product-design-j305-j045-from-2012/
GCSE Textiles Technology, AQA, Course code 4570
Exam board link
Year 10
| Term | Unit(s) of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | Establishing high quality practical skills | Students make a product using as many embellishing skills as possible. Eg tie and dye, quilting, embroidery. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Developing practical and written skills | Designing and making a unique Christmas shoe/boot with accompanying A3 folder |
| Spring Term 1 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder and practical tasks. |
| Spring Term 2 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder and practical tasks. |
| Summer Term 1 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder and practical tasks. |
| Summer Term 2 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder and practical tasks. |
Year 11
| Term | Unit of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Coursework Preparation for mock exam | Making the individual item linked to design brief |
| Spring Term 1 | Coursework | Making the individual item linked to design brief |
| Spring Term 2 | Coursework | Making the individual item linked to design brief |
| Summer Term 1 | Revision and preparation for written paper | Use of practice papers and exemplar materials from exam board. |
GCSE Food Technology, AQA, Course code 4545
Exam board link
Year 10
| Term | Unit(s) of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | Establishing high quality practical skills | Students make a number of products using a variety of food commodities |
| Autumn Term 2 | Establishing high quality practical skills | As above |
| Spring Term 1 | Establishing high quality practical skills | Design and make a range of signature Cakes, multicultural food and meals suitable for the school canteen |
| Spring Term 2 | Establishing high quality practical skills | As above |
| Summer Term 1 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder and practical tasks. |
| Summer Term 2 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder and practical tasks. |
Year 11
| Term | Unit of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | Coursework | Design and written A3 Folder. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Coursework Preparation for mock exam | Making the individual item linked to design brief |
| Spring Term 1 | Coursework | Making the individual item linked to design brief |
| Spring Term 2 | Coursework | Making the individual item linked to design brief |
| Summer Term 1 | Revision and preparation for written paper | Use of practice papers and exemplar materials from exam board. |
Key Stage 5
Technology at KS5 comprises two A Level courses, one within the field of Textiles Technology, another with a more generalised approach within the range of Resistant Materials, Graphic Products and Manufacturing.
AS/A2 Product Design, OCR, Course code H053, H453
Exam board link
The A Level Product Design course is designed to offer students the opportunity to study, propose and realise prototype solutions closely linked to the real world of product manufacture in a range of material areas.
It is intended to encourage candidates to:
· initiate design solutions, develop, test and trial working models and prototypes;
· develop and sustain imagination, innovation and flair when working with concepts and materials;
· develop an understanding of contemporary design and technological practices and consider the uses and effects of new technologies and modern materials;
· develop thinking skills, financial capability, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills.
Year 12
The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) GCE is both a ‘stand-alone’ qualification and also the first half of the corresponding Advanced GCE.
The AS GCE is made up of two mandatory units, which form 50% of the corresponding four-unit Advanced GCE.
· F521: Advanced Innovation Challenge.Students take part in a timed design challenge based on a pre-released theme, under examination conditions. The challenge consists of a design, and modelling exercise recorded in a workbook. A written reflection paper is completed at a later date. The challenge and reflection paper are held in the centre and are marked externally by OCR.
· F522: The Product Study. Students carry out an in-depth product analysis resulting in suggestions for improvements. This is a coursework component that is marked by the teacher, internally standardised within the centre and externally moderated by OCR.
| Term | Unit(s) of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | Establishing high quality practical and design skills | Students design and make a variety of small scale projects to establish a wide range of designing and making skills with resistant materials |
| Autumn Term 2 | Product Study | The Product Study consists of product analysis and product development, prototype modelling and testing. |
| Spring Term 1 | Product Study | As above |
| Spring Term 2 | Product Study | As above |
| Summer Term 1 | Advanced Innovation Challenge | The Advanced Innovation Challenge requires students to design and model in a design workshop or examination room and complete a workbook and question paper |
| Summer Term 2 | Introduction to A2 Coursework task; Design, Make, Evaluate | See Year 13 details below. |
Year 13
This year’s work is made up of two mandatory units, which form the final 50% of the
four-unit Advanced GCE.
F523: Design, Make and Evaluate, Students are required to produce a portfolio and product. The project is marked by the teacher, internally standardised within the centre and externally moderated by OCR.
F524: Product Designis a written paper that consists of two components. Students are able to select questions across the focus material areas if they wish.
| Term | Unit(s) of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | Coursework task: Design, Make , Evaluate | Students are required to produce a coursework portfolio and product which fully demonstrates their designing, making and evaluation skills, using creativity, flair and innovation. |
| Autumn Term 2 | Design, Make , Evaluate | As above |
| Spring Term 1 | Design, Make , Evaluate | As above |
| Spring Term 2 | Revision Programme for Final Exam. | Students prepare thoroughly for the Product Design Exam below. |
| Summer Term 1 | Product Design | The subject content of this unit is focused towards products and applications and their analysis in respect of: • materials, components and their uses • manufacturing processes • industrial and commercial practices. |
AS/A2 Textiles (Product Design), AQA Course Code text1
The A level Textilescourse is designed to encourage students to:
- develop a broad view of design and technology
- develop their capacity to design and make textile products
- appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture and marketing.
AS outline
Students study and work with a variety of fabrics and components used in the design and making of textile products. They work in both two and three dimensional forms. Students gain an understanding of industrial and commercial practices within the area of design and manufacture:
- Unit 1 (TEXT1) Materials, Components and Application
- Unit 2 (TEXT2) Learning Through Designing and Making
Exam board link
Year 12
| Term | Unit(s) of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | 1 and 2 | Materials and components, Investigation and clarification of problems |
| Autumn Term 2 | 1 and 2 | Materials and components, Development of design proposal |
| Spring Term 1 | 1 and 2 | Design and market influences, Development of design proposal , modelling and making |
| Spring Term 2 | 1 and 2 | Design and Market influences, modelling and making |
| Summer Term 1 | 1 and 2 | Processes and manufacture, evaluation and testing |
| Summer Term 2 | 4 | Start A2 coursework. |
A2 outline
The specification offers students the opportunity to further develop the knowledge and practical skills from AS. Students continue to design and manufacture textile products alongside an understanding of the processes and procedures of commercial textile manufacture:
- Unit 3 (TEXT3) Design and Manufacture
- Unit 4 (TEXT4) Design and Making Practice.
Year 13
| Term | Unit(s) of Work | Summary |
| Autumn term 1 | 3 and 4 | Materials and components, Clarification of problem |
| Autumn Term 2 | 3 and 4 | Materials and components, development of design proposal |
| Spring Term 1 | 3 and 4 | Design and market influences, modelling and manufacture |
| Spring Term 2 | 3 and 4 | Processes and manufacture, conclusions, evaluations and recommendations. |
| Summer Term 1 | 3 | Processes and manufacture |