Design & Technology

Vision for the Department

For pupils to be given the skills, knowledge and opportunity to explore a broad range of materials and manufacturing possibilities, allowing pupils to express their creativity through design and to produce high quality outcomes.

KS3 Curriculum

YEAR 7

Products - paper bridge; MDF Jigsaw; wooden car

Teamwork: Introduction to the iterative design process. Looking at how engineers and designers work as individuals initially but then as a team to come up with a design that best fits a brief/context.

Making prototypes and learning how destructive testing can be used to make a stronger and better product. Using the iterative process to create the best design possible.

Introduction to basic tools: How you can use some basic hand tools/workshop tools to create a product or prototype that meets a brief.

Isometric sketching: Learning the techniques and skills involved in isometric sketching and how it can be used to create basic shapes. From those basic shapes learning how to create more complex shapes.

2D Design: Introduction to 2D design and using this to create an outcome on the laser cutter.

ACCESS FM: What is ACCESSFM, and how is it used during designing and making. Understanding that this is an integral part of the iterative design process.

Learning woodwork skills to produce a design outcome.

Materials: Understanding how different materials can be used for different products. Recyclability, sustainability, manufacturing, machining.

 

YEAR 8

Products: mechanical toy; recycled plastic clock

Mechanisms: Different directions of motion. How mechanisms can be used to increase efficiency, decrease effort/load and can change direction of movement.

Vacuum forming: Using recycled plastic to create prototypes.

Recycling: What plastics can be recycled and how? Looking at the waste around TKA and utilizing the machinery in the workshop to minimize the waste.

Cookery & Healthy eating: 

Preparation skills: learning how to use a variety of processes in the food room to produce a range of dishes as part of a healthy eating cooking course.

Cooking Skills: using hot and cold methods of cooking including boiling, frying, baking and roasting to make a variety of healthy meals.

YEAR 9

Products: LED Lamp Box; designer desk tidy; class Chess set

Laser cutting: What can we create using a laser cutter?

Finger joint, kerf cut.

Electronics- how to wire and solder simple circuits to produce a working LED lamp box.

Designers: How some designers have influenced our lives. Where can we see these influences in everyday life? Why have these designs/creations/movements been so influential?

Model Making: how to successfully prototype design ideas before manufacture to a high quality.

3D printing and additive manufacture: How rapid prototyping has transformed the ability to create models. How it has increased productivity and efficiency. 

Advanced hand tools and subtractive manufacture: how to create a prototype using subtractive manufacture. Learning precision skills such as accuracy with files and shaping tools.

 

Going beyond the National Curriculum through:

• Annual DT showcase event
• Trips to London design focused museums
• Collaborations with Kingston College and University - e.g. water rocket manufacturing

 

For more information on the curriculum beyond KS3 please refer to the Guided Choices and Sixth Form Brochures which can be found on the:

Curriculum Page