Curriculum

Design & Technology

| Education | 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 graphics. They will learn sewing skills, creative design and nutritional value. They will analyse and engage with existing materials and equipment including sewing and kitchenware. 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 study Jon Burgerman and developing characters through illustration. In food, they will learn to build an understanding of healthy eating, 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.
During Year 8, pupils will design and make a lightbox, study international foods and learn to confidently use the sewing machine. They will explore several ideas, mechanisms, concepts and approaches to understanding the best possible solution.
During Year 9, pupils will explore the impact of fast fashion in textiles through creating soft sculptures as well as learning more about food science.

What will I study at Key Stage 4?

At KS4, pupils can choose to study Food Preparation and Nutrition as part of the Art and Design curriculum. The knowledge and skills that have been acquired during Design Technology provide a strong foundation for this qualification. Food Preparation and Nutrition allows pupils to work on a selection of themes to develop and explore areas of food technology including developing knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition, and healthy eating. As they develop their skill and understanding, they will refine their ideas and gain confidence through experimentation and exploration.

Curriculum Overview
Year 7
Graphics Textiles Food and Nutrition
    • John Burgerman Illustration
    • 3D visualisation of design idea
  • Textiles Technology
  • Design brief
  • Existing products (research)
  • Technical understanding
  • Generating & communicating ideas (designing & prototypes)
  • Health & safety
  • Identification of tools & equipment
  • Application of hand sewing techniques
  • Components (buttons)
  • Textile Construction using felt
  • Assessing against set criteria
  • Adapting/refining
    • Personal hygiene around food and food hygiene (temperatures/storage)
    • Safety around oven, cooker, grill
    • Food safety
    • Eat well Guide and healthy eating
    • Food groups
    • Proportion
    • Eat Well Principles
    • Food labelling
    • Food waste/food miles
Year 8
Graphics Electronics and iterative design process Food and Nutrition

    • Book Illustration

    • Design process

    • Assembly and disassembly

    • Health and safety

1st Term

  • Electronics for intelligence
  • Circuits (LED projects)
  • Connector and wires basics
  • Voltage, current
  • Resistance and Ohms Law
  • Multi-meters, and measuring voltage
  • Battery, switch, resistor, and an LED
  • Health and safety

2nd Term

  • Health and safety
  • Design process
  • Assembly and disassembly
  • Health and safety
    • Eat well plate
    • International Food and different cultures
    • Food Provence – around the world and Britain.
    • Seasonality of fruit and veg
    • Labelling for nutritional information
    • Composting and recycling
    • Sustainability
    • Technology and transportation
    • Recipe ideas
    • Cross contamination
    • Principles of reheating
Year 9
Graphics Textiles Food and Nutrition
  • T Shirt Design
  • Design process
  • Assembly and disassembly
  • Health and safety
  • Textiles – Environmental impact & sustainability
  • Design brief – Context, users & purpose
  • Existing products (research)
  • Technical understanding
  • Generating & communicating ideas
  • Use of tools & equipment – embroidery
  • Sewing machine – (variation of stitches)
  • Components (Fastenings)
  • Textile Construction using cotton
  • Assessing against set criteria
  • Adapting/refine
    • Function of ingredients through practical skills
    • Food for health
    • Food waste, food insecurity
    • Recipes which expand skills in cooking from scratch
    • Links to technical language
    • Using the above techniques in preparation and cooking
    • Food Hygiene and standards
    • Careers and industry
Food Technology KS4
Year 10 Year 11
  • Food, Nutrition and Health – nutritional needs and health, Energy needs, nutritional analysis, diet related health risks, technological developments, macro-nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate), micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals, water)
  • Food Safety – food spoilage and contamination, microorganisms and enzymes, signs of food spoilage, microorganisms in food production, bacterial contamination, principles of food safety, buying, storing, preparing, and cooking food
  • Food Choice – factors affecting food choice, British and two other cuisines, sensory evaluation: to include taste testing, trialling, how taste receptors and olfactory systems work when tasting food, food labelling and marketing
  • Food Science – cooking of food and heat transfer
  • Task 1 Food Investigation – written report
  • Task 2 Practical Investigation – food preparation assessment, written report
    Assessment at Key Stage 3

    KS3 DT internal assessments take place every term

     

    Assessment at Key Stage 4

    Overview

    Focus

    Paper 1: Written Exam – 50%

    Students will focus on theoretical knowledge of food preparation and nutrition. This will be assessed through a written exam. Students will have multiple choice questions and five questions each with a number of sub questions.

    Overview

    Focus

    Non-exam Assessment: Externally Set Tasks:

    Task 1: Food Investigation

    Task 2: Food Preparation Assessment

    In task 1, students’ understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients will be assessed through a written or electronic report (1,500-2,000 words) which must include photographic evidence of the practical investigation.

    In task 2, students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes. This is to be recorded through written or electronic portfolio including photographic evidence.

     KS4 Food Exam Board Specification: AQA GCSE Food (8585)

    Enrichment

    The faculty offers subject-specific enrichment clubs and pupils are able to use the school’s Food Technology room and IT facilities as well as specialist design resources.

    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.

    Useful Resources and Revision Support