Design and Technology

 It has been quoted that “Design is the opposite of accident” and it is no accident that many students find their most rewarding experiences in this department.The year 9 student experience a rotation designed to introduce them to the four GCSE subjects on offer.  These are:

Electronic Products
This course enables students to produce electronic products of marketable quality.  The department is well catered for with a suite of new computers loaded with some of the latest PCB design software as well as extensive CAM provision including two laser cutters and two micro routers.  The students learn, through the construction of some of the basic electronic building blocks, before going on to develop a new type of training aid based around the Sports College theme for the GCSE coursework project.  This course is considered complementary to some of the material covered in the Science syllabuses.

Food Technology
This course provides a unique opportunity for students to develop traditional culinary and new technological skills.  The course is made up of a wide variety of units, which enable students to produce a range of highly quality products using equipment and ICT skills to model, develop and analyse their products.  The course also provides life skills that will be invaluable in later life.

Graphic Products
Graphic Products is an exciting course responding mainly to live projects.  These projects introduce a variety of designing and modelling techniques using lightweight materials to construct 3-dimensional items.  CAD/CAM facilities enhance greatly the quality of the students’ products.  The current coursework project involves designing a range of fast food packaging items for a National Theme Park.

Resistant Materials Technology
This course gives pupils a thorough grounding in the use of wood, metal and plastic through a series of short ‘Focused Practical Tasks’ before allowing the students to move on and design their own artefacts.  The GCSE coursework project consists of the design and manufacture of either a saleable toy or a clock suitable for batch production.  This enables the students to use CAD/CAM production techniques and to study the use of industrial practices.

Assessment   - All GCSE D and T subjects
Terminal Examination        -           40%
Coursework              -                       60%

Catering/Hospitality and Catering
The catering course provides an opportunity for students to develop culinary skills within a catering environment.  Students produce a range of meals for different occasions, as well as completing appropriate work experience.  The course covers all aspects of catering, including meal planning, menu design, costing and front of house duties.  Students will need to take part in at least 3 events, which may involve out of school time.

Assessment
Catering:                   Terminal Examination        -            40%
Practical Examination         -           40%
Coursework                          -           20%
Hospitality and Catering    Terminal Examination -      33%
Portfolio and work experience      67%

Course outline – all GCSE subjects
The first two terms will consist of a period of development.  Pupils will be introduced to the wide range of skills necessary for designing and making and will be encouraged to express themselves in short, sharp objectives.  After this developmental period they will be introduced to their final coursework project, which will take two terms to complete, terminating at February half term.  The remainder of the Spring Term will be taken up with evaluation of the coursework and the study of examination technique through specimen papers.

NCFE Furniture Craft
The new NVQ in furniture craft is available at level 1 and level 2.  Students spend the first two terms constructing traditional pieces of furniture from sets of plans before going on to produce a final piece of their own design.A Level Courses

A/S and A2 Level Systems and Control Technology
A/S level Systems and Control Technology continues where GCSE Electronic Products ends.  The syllabus contains a large amount of electronics but in addition covers the study of mechanisms, materials and components.  Students are expected to work with levers, linkages, gears and mechanisms in order to produce projects that move as well as producing an electronic output

A/S and A2 level Food Technology
A/S level Food Technology continues where GCSE Food Technology ends.  The syllabus contains a large amount of practical food skills and in addition covers the study of nutrition, food science and some biochemistry.

A/S and A2 level Product Design
Product Design is about designing products for people; designing to solve a problem or a need. The course introduces candidates to a range of practical projects, which are put together into a portfolio of work. These projects build the candidates knowledge of a wide range of materials and tools. Hand tools and CAD/CAM are used side by side, to compare and contrast appropriate manufacturing techniques using
plastics, woods, metals, composites and smart materials. Local companies provide talks about how to operate within the design and manufacturing world, giving the candidates a useful insight into how the skills they are learning can be used in the world of work.