The Team:
Mr D Jackson: Head of T&D Department
Mr P Clarke: Assistant Vice Principal
Mr D Campbell: T&D Teacher
Mrs J Hamilton: Senior Technician
The Technology & Design team work together to provide an enjoyable and productive learning and teaching environment that allows all pupils from Year 8 through to Year 14 to engage in design and make activities during and after the normal daily timetabled framework. At every opportunity, we encourage our pupils to be respectful, ready and safe.
Pupils enjoy the creative and fun experiences fostered within the Technology & Design department and all teaching and technical staff are committed to providing each young person with the mental ‘tool kit’ required to achieve their full potential.
The courses offered at Key Stages 4 and 5 are wide and varied and offer our young people academic and vocational examination options.
The Technology & Design staff pride themselves in having helped with the successes of our pupils past and present and we endeavour to continue to be a positive influence in our young people’s lives.
KS3
Key Stage 3 activity is designed to promote the safe and correct use of tools, equipment and manufacturing processes while producing two and three dimensional products in a range of resistant materials. The projects are realised in a variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic.
Pupils are encouraged to demonstrate their creative flair and develop their thinking skills, but most importantly enjoy their experiences while interacting with peers and staff.
In addition to designing and making a range of projects, all pupils will be able to explore graphic communication and develop their freehand and technical drawing skills; this will include the use of CAD software such as Solidworks and 2D Designer. Pupils will experience CAM through our laser cutter and 3D printers/rapid prototyping facilities. This will provide insight to some of the content included in the various KS4 and KS5 courses offered within our department.
All pupil class work and homework, is continually assessed during the school year and periodic tracking tests are set to assist with measuring pupil progress.
Some of the KS3 projects we offer include:
Year 8:- Health & Safety, Key Fob, Fuse Tester (Electronics), Pull-Along Toy and Graphics/CAD
Year 9:- Health & Safety, Desk Tidy, Ugly Bug (Electronics), Graphics and CAD (Solidworks and 2D/3D Design)
Year 10:- Health & Safety, Trinket Box, Whirlygigs, Graphics and CAD (Solidworks and 2D/3D Design)
Projects are reviewed each year and developed to include the use of new technologies and to suit the interests of the students.
KS4
GCSE Technology & Design (Product Design)
We offer GCSE Technology & Design, which involves students learning about many different materials (including Smart materials) and manufacturing processes.
Students will also identify a Design Problem based on a theme(s) which is provided by CCEA. Pupils will create a structured, ten page design portfolio and then manufacture a 3D product based on their chosen design. This project will involve a range of textual content and various forms of graphic communication including freehand sketching, formal drawings (CAD) and charts/tables. Scaled models will be manufactured before realising the actual full scale prototype which will be manufactured to a high standard using a range of materials and manufacturing processes (including CAD/CAM). This work is then tested and evaluated before external examination (50%).
Pupils will also complete two written examinations while following this course of study – Core Content and Product Design (50%).
Occupational Studies
We complete two units of work, based on Construction (CCEA), within the T&D department – Bench Joinery and Carpentry & Joinery. These units are aimed at promoting the development of knowledge and skills that will prepare the pupils for further and/or higher courses of study in Construction and in preparation for the world of work. Each unit consists of three assessment objectives, AO1 consists of theoretical content (20%), AO2 is based on the manufacture of a 3D product (60%) and AO3 is based on the detailed evaluation of all work covered (20%). There is no external written examination associated with this course of study.
During the course students develop an understanding of health and safety within the workplace, careers, material awareness, recognition and maintenance of tools and equipment, consideration for the environment as well as learning the essential practical skills involved in the manufacture of a Bird House and Occasional Table.
KS5
We offer ‘A’ level Design & Technology (Product Design). This course (WJEC – Eduqas) is delivered over two years and consists of seven areas of theoretical content/study which is examined externally through a written examination (50%). The controlled assessment element comprises of a design and make project. This project involves each pupil identifying a real problem along with a client and then establishing a way forward in the context of the development of a sketch book, formal design portfolio, complex modelling (including 2D-3D CAD/CAM modelling) and leading to the manufacture of a full scale 3D prototype of the developed solution (50%).
Careers
Do you love solving problems and being creative? Or maybe you keep coming up with great ideas?
If that’s the case, studying Technology & Design could be for you. The subject can open you up to a lot of career choices…
What is Technology & Design (Product Design)?
Technology & Design (at GCSE and/or A level) is an area of study that focuses on planning, designing and creating things (called “products”) which people use. While studying this subject, you can learn how to design and make anything from electronics, clothes, furniture, and even computer programs. At GHS we tend to focus on products made from resistant materials such as wood, metal and plastic.
What skills will I gain? … These skills are transferable and can be applied to many life and work situations:
- Creativity
- Problem Solving
- Planning
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Evaluation
What jobs can this lead to? … Here are just a few!
- Product Designer – Mechanical/Electrical Engineer
- Fashion Designer – Software Engineer
- Graphic Designer – Construction Operative/Joiner/Manager
- Architect – Technology & Design/ICT Teacher
- Civil Engineer – Hospitality/Chef
Related Subjects
- Art – Chemistry
- Maths – Physics
- ICT
What is Occupational Studies (Construction)?
We deliver two units from the Construction area of study at GHS. Bench Joinery and Carpentry & Joinery. This is an area of study that also focuses on planning, designing and creating/manufacturing products which people use. While studying this subject you will specifically manufacture products using wood (timber). The skills and knowledge developed here are useful for a person to progress further onto a course of study at a higher or further level of education, focussed on the Construction industry and typically leading to an apprenticeship.
What skills will I gain? … These skills are transferable and can be applied to many life and work situations:
- Creativity
- Problem Solving
- Planning
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Evaluation
What jobs can this lead to? … Here are just a few!
- Joiner – Shop Fitter
- Site Manager – Clerk of Works
- Carpenter – Construction Operative
- Kitchen Fitter – Building Technician
- Building Surveyor – Construction Director
- Site Inspector – Wood Machinist
Follow us on Twitter
From Twitter