Key Stage 3
Our key stage 3 curriculum has undergone and continues to undergo extensive develop to ensure that students are able to leave the faculty at the end of year 9 with a strong skill set that they can use for the rest of their life regardless of whether they continue to choose a Design and Technology at GCSE (which of course we would want them to choose anyway!).
Our curriculum at key stage 3 is centred around five key strands:
- Designing
- Making
- Evaluating
- Technical Knowledge
- Cooking and Nutrition
Students work around a series of units in years 7 to 9 that emcompass elements of our five key strands. The units are designed to move away from the traditional segmented attitude that can often be attributed to Design and Technology i.e. wood work, metal work, electronics, textiles etc. Instead each individual unit may have aspects of several material areas within it, this presents students with a more genuine view on how products are constructed, as products aren't often constructed from just one material category.
We have also worked on incorporating more design thinking within units, this will ensure that students are able to articulate their ideas and adapt to problems more readily; a key skill for later on in life. We want to prepare our students to be adaptive as they will encounter jobs when they leave school that don't currently exist. If they are adaptive problem solvers this will help their future career prospects.
It is worth noting that where possible units are delivered sequentially, however on occasions this may not be possible due to needing specialist rooms. In addition to this, due to the distruption of COVID, students in years 8 and 9 may follow a slightly different unit structure than what is listed below. This is in order to implement a recovery curriculum.
Year 7
This unit is designed to not only establish what knowledge and skills students are coming into our faculty with, but to also provide them with some fundamental drawing skills.
Timescale: 4 weeks.
Students are introduced to what a context is and how does diversity link in. This unit is centred around discussing real world problems and solutions.
Timescale: 2 weeks.
Students will be exposed to working with wood and metal. This develops their hand tool skills, as well as providing students with technical knowledge surrounding the use of woods and metals.
Timescale: 3 weeks.
Students are introduced to a variety of stitch types, pattern making and applique.
Timescale: 3 weeks.
Students will develop their design skills by responding to a context that explores font types, as well as an introduction to working with electrical components.
Timescale: 4 weeks.
Students will be introduced to using CAD software (2D Design), as well as CAM (laser cutter). They will also develop their skills in working with plastic and cast metal.
Timescale: 4 weeks.
Students will continue to develop their use of CAD and CAM. However in this unit the CAD is focussed on a 3D aspect (TinkerCAD) and the CAM introduces students to 3D printers.
Timescale: 2 weeks.
Whilst continuing to build upon students designs skills, they will also be introduced to sublimation printing and technical knowledge surrounding printing techniques.
Timescale: 4 weeks.
TinkerCAD skills are developed further. This time the block coding aspect of TinkerCAD is introduced, along with BBC micro:bit's.
Timescale: 2 weeks.
Students will be introduced to the technical knowledge surrounding food. In addition to this they will also develop their culinary skills within the kitchen by producing a range of healthy predominantly savoury dishes.
Timescale: 10 weeks.
Year 8
Year 9
Design & Technology News
- Royal Navy Food Tech Practical
A cooking session with members of our Armed Forces. (27/02/2024)