– KS3 Design and Technology

Curriculum

Intent:

Design and Technology at Rainford is a stimulating, rigorous and practical subject encompassing the four specialist areas of Graphics, Resistant Materials, Food and Textiles.

Our curriculum strives to present a range of opportunities for students to develop their creative, practical and technical skills as they design and make prototypes and products that solve real life problems within a variety of contexts, considering both their own and others’ needs, wants and values. We will encourage students to take risks in their design approaches and aim to develop resourceful, innovative and enterprising young learners who can go on to be the next generation of creative thinkers, designers and practitioners.

Implementation:

The carousel structure at KS3 will allow students to experience the diversity of each specialism and prepare them for further study at KS4 and beyond should they choose this subject option.

At KS4 students will be given the opportunity to focus on their chosen specialism and opt for the course that best suits their own career aspirations or interests. We will continue to offer both GCSE and Vocational courses which are designed to fit the needs of a wide range of learners.

Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding across the specialist areas and draw on cross-curricular links with other subjects such as mathematics, science, ICT and art to further enhance their studies. Through the evaluation of products, their own work and the work of prominent practitioners within the chosen specialism they will develop a critical understanding of the impact of Design and Technology on society and the wider world.

Vocational options for Graphics and Hospitality/Catering will focus on work in those sectors and will be assessed through practical outcomes and coursework assignments rather than traditional academic examinations.

Impact:

In Design and Technology our aim is for all students to embrace and enjoy the subject matter across all disciplines in KS3 as they develop skills, knowledge and understanding which encourages them to opt for the subject and go on achieve outstanding results in their chosen specialism at KS4 and KS5.

As they move on from Rainford, students who have studied a Design and Technology specialism will be armed with a wide range of skills including practical and creative problem solving, communication, presentation and technical know-how to put them in a strong position to apply for a related higher level course or apprenticeship, or move confidently into the employment market.

Possible careers and opportunities

Study in this area can lead to a wide range of future opportunities in several sectors including:

  • Resistant Materials: Joiner, Engineer, CNC operator, Machinist, Construction worker.
  • Food: Chef, Dietician, Home Economist, Nutritionist, Catering Manager, Journalist, Restaurant Manager, Hotelier, Hospitality, Leisure/Tourism Worker.
  • Graphics: Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Games Designer, DTP, Creative Art worker.
  • Textiles: Fashion Designer, Textiles Designer, Milliner, Stylist, Pattern Designer, Interior Designer.

 

Staff

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Facilities

The department consists of 8 teaching rooms with 2 dedicated to each subject specialism.

  • S101/102 Graphics: Full suite of PCs, in-class printing facilities, range of graphics tools and equipment.
  • S103/104 Textiles: Full range of sewing machines, heat press, range of textiles tools and equipment, class set of laptops.
  • S105/106 Resistant Materials: Fully equipped modern workshops, freestanding machines, traditional work benches, range of specialist tools and equipment.
  • S110/111 Food: Full range of cooking facilities, food preparation area, specialist tools and equipment, study area, refrigeration facilities, dishwasher and laundry facilities, class set of laptops.
  • The department also has a further suite of computers in the open area, 2 state of the art laser cutters, a large format vinyl cutting machines, digital printing/scanning facilities and a materials preparation/storage room.

 

Support

The Design and Technology Department is very well equipped to offer additional support to students with a range of learning needs through varied teaching approaches and with differentiated resources. Staff are available at lunch times and after-school to offer further support in the completion/improvement of student work.

Extra-Curricular

The Design and Technology Department offers lunch-time clubs for KS3 students at certain times of the year in and these will be advertised in class and on the display monitors around school.

Year 7 Curriculum:

Students visit each area Design and Technology on a carousel system

  • Resistant Materials – Students will develop their practical woodworking skills alongside their use of CAD software and knowledge of plastic forming processes as they produce a Desk Tidy and a Reminder. They will be taught various techniques using different tools, equipment and machinery to shape, manipulate, assemble and refine materials into a finished product.
  • Food – Students will follow a food preparation course where they will be introduced to a range of practical techniques to enable them to make a number of outcomes. Students will develop skills and knowledge in: understanding food safety and hygiene, practical application of knife skills, heat transfer methods, basic nutrition/eat well guide.
  • Graphics – Students will develop their use of CAD software alongside more traditional drawing and presentation skills. They will be taught how to use colour, imagery and type to create logos and on pack decoration and will learn to manipulate a variety of graphic materials whilst designing and making a Maze Puzzle and a set of packaged Pin Badges.
  • Textiles – Students will develop their use of practical machine sewing skills alongside traditional drawing and presentation skills. They will be taught how to create patterns and basic textile construction techniques and develop creative solutions to decorate their designs with a range of textile materials.

 

Assessment

Your child’s progress will be assessed against the Design and Technology Progress Ladders.  Your child will be assessed formally in our whole-school Assessment Fortnights twice a year. In addition, students will receive feedback on their supporting folio work and each subject will have an end of unit test.

Resources

To help support your child’s learning we have detailed Knowledge Organisers on each topic we teach. To help develop your child’s vocabulary and foster a love for reading, we also set four reading homeworks a term which are published on Show My Homework. Further useful resources include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects, http://www.technologystudent.com.

Year 8 Curriculum:

Students visit each area Design and Technology on a carousel system.

  • Resistant Materials – Students will further develop their skills and knowledge in the use of practical woodwork skills and CAD software gained in Y7. They will be taught a range of techniques involving different tools, equipment and machinery to produce a high quality picture frame. Students will develop skills and knowledge in: designing, manufacturing techniques, timber based materials, drawing and presentation skills, use of ICT-CAD/CAM.
  • Food – Students will follow a food preparation course where they will be introduced to a range of practical techniques to enable them to make a number of personal products and build on skills and knowledge from Y7. Students will develop skills and knowledge in: food preparation, following a recipe, identifying the main macro/micro nutrients and the Eat Well Guide.
  • Graphics – Students will further develop their use of graphic software and build on their drawing and presentation skills gained in Y7. They will learn about and put into practice plastic forming methods. Students will learn to manipulate a variety of graphic materials whilst designing and making a photo holder and associated packaging. They will be taught how to use colour, imagery and type to generate product appropriate graphic elements for their design proposals.

 

  • Textiles – Students will develop their use of image manipulation and CAD software alongside more traditional drawing and presentation skills.  They will be taught how to use colour, shape and pattern to create surface decoration and apply this learning to designing a bag.  Students will develop skills and knowledge in: designing, making, drawing, presentation, dying techniques, use of sewing machine, use of graphic software.

 

Assessment

Your child’s progress will be assessed against the Design and Technology Progress Ladders.  Your child will be assessed formally in our whole-school Assessment Fortnights twice a year. In addition, students will receive feedback on their supporting folio work and each unit will have an end of unit test.

Resources

To help support your child’s learning we have detailed Knowledge Organisers on each topic we teach. To help develop your child’s vocabulary and foster a love for reading, we also set four reading homeworks a term which are published on Show My Homework. Further useful resources include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects, http://www.technologystudent.com.

Year 9 Curriculum:

Students visit each area Design and Technology on a carousel system

  • Resistant Materials: Students will further develop their skills and knowledge in the use of practical woodwork skills and CAD software gained in Y7 and 8. They will be taught a range of higher level manufacturing techniques and skills involving different tools, equipment and machinery to produce a high quality Keepsake Box. Students will further develop skills and knowledge in: drawing and presentation, woodworking techniques, use of CAD/CAM to embellish products, wood types, plastics, components, QA/QC, evaluation.
  • Food – Students will be introduced to a wide range of practical techniques to enable them to make a number of personal products and build on skills and knowledge from Year 7 and 8. Students will further develop skills and knowledge in: food preparation, macro/micro nutrients, nutritional differences at each life stage, functions of a range of ingredients, nutritional requirements for vegetarians.
  • Graphics – Students will experiment with a range of graphic materials, techniques and processes as they explore ideas for a decorative clock and associated packaging inspired by a chosen Design Movement. They will be taught how to further manipulate and develop imagery using graphic software as they refine their designs into high quality final outcomes. Students will learn how to combine colour, imagery and type to create appropriate graphic designs and all work will be documented in the accompanying design folio.Students will develop skills and knowledge in: sourcing and using appropriate inspiration, design movements, colour theory, drawing and presentation, use of graphic software.
  • Textiles – students will be introduced to and develop their use of traditional dying techniques. They will be taught how to create patterns based on geometric design principles and explore colour and pattern combinations as they design and make a Geometric Patchwork Cushion. Students will further develop skills and knowledge in: designing, making, drawing and presentation, pattern making, advanced techniques sewing machine techniques (e.g. appliqué), dying techniques and printing techniques.

 Assessment

Your child’s progress will be assessed against the Design and Technology Progress Ladders.  Your child will be assessed formally in our whole-school Assessment Fortnights twice a year. In addition, students will receive feedback on their supporting folio work and each unit will have an end of unit test.

 Resources

To help support your child’s learning we have detailed Knowledge Organisers on each topic we teach. To help develop your child’s vocabulary and foster a love for reading, we also set four reading homeworks a term which are published on Show My Homework.  Further useful resources include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects, http://www.technologystudent.com