Design and Technology

Curriculum intent

Design is all around us. Everything has been designed and manufactured with careful planning and informed decisions. Our curriculum opens our pupils’ eyes to the world of design and provides them with the knowledge and skills to appreciate it and be part of it. ​ 

For most, the Design and Technology curriculum is a three year curriculum with some taking the subject further as a GCSE option. The curriculum demonstrates an appreciation of both practical design project work and theory knowledge. 

The subject offers and provides our pupils with a unique skillset. It allows them to develop essential practical skills for life which can support and lead to careers in the future. Pupils will develop their creative and problem solving skills though a wide range of engaging design projects. The curriculum also offers pupils the chance to explore technology and how to use in a practical design project context. It also allows pupils to explore and develop knowledge of wider challenges in our subject such as sustainability and making informed consumer choices in the future. ​ 

Pupils will explore a range of materials, in a variety of projects, which will provide them with a foundation knowledge of material areas and properties, and how these are applied to the design and manufacturing process. The course content is sequenced in units which focus on one key material type at a time. Skills and knowledge are built on, developed and interlinked as they continue through the year groups with their learning. Project based learning allows our pupils to investigate a design brief, research the issues that arise and design and make a produce that is suitable for a user and commercially viable.​ 

Pupils develop care and pride in their design work. Seeing a project grow from an idea to a finished physical product provides our learners with a tactile, sensory experience and allows them to walk away with a huge sense of achievement. 

Design and Technology forms an essential part of our pupils’ education. It helps them to understand the world around them. It allows them to develop knowledge of materials used in many of the products that we buy and use in our day to day lives. It feeds into pupils future choices and decision making about materials for furniture, diy projects, home renovations. It also supports pupils in making informed decisions about materials and products and sustainability for the future.​ 

Design and Technology allows pupils to develop confidence and skills working with a unique set of tools and equipment which can support careers in many sectors but also provide practical skills for use in life.​ Design projects allow pupils to develop skills in tackling problems in a positive, logical way and creative way. 

KS4 Curriculum roadmap / Year by year, term by term

AQA GCSE Design & Technology  

GCSE Design and Technology Specification Specification for first teaching in 2017 

50% Written examination 

50% Non-exam assessment (NEA) coursework task: 

Theory units covered: 

Unit 1 - Core Technical Principles & Specialist Technical Principles 

Unit 2 – Common Specialist Principles 

Unit 3 – Timber Based Materials 

Unit 4 – Designing and Making Principles 

A range of practical projects and skills are explored and developed to support the completion of the NEA coursework task in year 11. 

Careers linking to the subject

As well as giving students vital life skills this course links to a number of exciting careers. Popular careers for people with design and technology qualifications include: Industrial/project designer, fashion designer, automotive engineer, medical engineer, tailor, textile designer, architect, interior designer, software engineer, civil engineer, carpenter, graphic designer, game designer, app designer and web design. 

Key Contact

Mr McEntee

Director of Learning - Technology 

liam.mcentee@heathlaneacademy.org.uk 

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