Technology
Our Mission
Design and Technology prepares students to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies by learning to think creatively. It is all about solving real context based practical problems using a wide range of materials and components including Food, Textiles, woods, metals, plastics, smart materials, electronics and graphic media. We aim to equip students with relevant knowledge and safe working skills that will serve them well and enable them to pursue careers in diverse areas such as manufacturing, the creative product design and graphics industries, engineering and hospitality & catering. Whilst much of what we teach is academic, a central feature of student work is practical in nature and this is what motivates our students and makes Design & Technology challenging, relevant and fun.
The Technology team works hard to encourage, motivate and challenge students to achieve their best in designing and making in a variety of material areas. We take pride in the fact that our GCSE results are officially recognised as being consistently and significantly above the national average.
Our student survey tells us that the vast majority of students enjoy their learning since we try to be responsive to their needs.
Key Stage 3 students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have the opportunity to work in a variety of specialist areas involving Food, Textiles, Electronics, Graphics, CAD CAM and Resistant Materials.
In Years 10 and 11 students can opt for the following Technology GCSE subjects:
Food
Resistant Materials
Graphics
Textiles
Engineering (Level 1 / 2)
Homework; independent learning opportunities for technology students
Homework is set regularly for all our pupils. Pupils jot a brief description of the task and the deadline in their planners in lessons, and a fuller more detailed version (often with additional resources) is then posted on the Class Charts website. Pupils are expected to look at the Class Charts information before carrying out a homework task. Parents also have access to this website in order to track and support their child.
All of our homework tasks are set to continue work started in the lesson or as a preparation for the next lesson. If pupils are absent from a lesson they are expected to see the teacher and catch up on missed lesson or homework tasks in time for the next lesson. This is to prevent them from falling behind and to ensure they are achieving to their very best standard.
All of the Technology teachers are happy to give additional guidance on any task and we can usually be found in our classrooms most days if a pupil requires further help to complete a piece of work.
KS3 pupils can expect homework on average every two weeks. They should be spending around 45mins on a task in year 7, and up to an hour and half once they reach year 9.
GCSE pupils will be expected to complete work outside of lessons every week. This will range from about an hour an a half in year 10 but could be upwards of two hours a week as they are working through their NEA (Non Exam Assessment) in year 11. All Year 11 classes will have after school club days to facilitate the completion of the NEA as often specialist equipment or software is needed that won’t be accessible at home.
In addition to the regular homework that is set, you will find the Technology Student website has very helpful resources.
Our Covid Year in Key Stage 3
Covid has not been allowed to kill creativity in the Technology Department and even though our weeks in school have been fewer this year, enthusiasm for practical tasks continues to be strong. With brand new projects being devised for all three years, pupils have continued to learn new skills and techniques, and some wonderful products have been completed. Year 7s have been making cuboid people, Bloc Bots, Pop-up Cards, Wind Spinners and Felt Monsters as well as honing their cooking skills in the many and varied Home Mini Makes.
Years 8 and 9 have all learnt to use the sewing machine and pupils have made a personalised cushion cover and mobile phone case. Other projects completed this year have been wooden Pan Trivets, Boomerangs and large sculptural Card Letters. As with year 7, food preparation and cooking has had to be done at home, but photographic evidence suggests that many mouth-watering dishes have been served up! The new covid-safe classroom and workshop practices have presented a huge challenge, but pupils have stepped up to the mark and made sure that their practical lessons have not only gone ahead, but also been as enjoyable as ever.
