Design and Technology

Our Design Technology curriculum has been created to teach students a wide range of practical skills that will enable the students to manufacture a wide range of products with a high degree of accuracy. Additionally, students are taught about a variety of materials and process to allow students to be selective when designing and making products at GCSE.

Design and Technology drives and inspires creativity amongst students empowering them to become confident users of techniques, tools and materials and critical users of technology. A high proportion of teaching is through practical work in excellent facilities.

Department Aims

To establish a safe practical space where students can be creative, use their imagination and feel relaxed and supported.

To learn a variety skills and processes that link across the curriculum areas and develop a range of transferable skills for using school and their future working lives.
To enable students to use theory knowledge to design, develop, make and evaluate a range of products.
To celebrate the work of all students and use assessment to monitor students progress providing information to help them improve their knowledge and skills.

Engineering

Our Engineering curriculum has been created to teach students a range of theoretical and practical skills that will enable students to manufacture a range of products to test their understanding of different processes and manufacture a range of sample pieces so that they can experience the more complex processes.

Resistant materials

Our Resistant materials' curriculum has been created to provide our students with a range of technical knowledge relating to all aspects of technology and timbers. Furthermore, to provide our students with a range of skills using a variety of hand tools and machine equipment so that they are able to design and create high quality accurate products.

Textiles

Our textiles' curriculum has been created to provide our students with a range of technical knowledge relating to all aspects of technology and textiles. Furthermore, to provide our students with a range of skills using a variety of hand and machine work, a variety of treatments and finishes so that they are able to design and create high quality accurate products.

Food and nutrition

Our food and nutrition curriculum has been created to empower students with skills and confidence in a kitchen by encouraging them to cook / prepare a wide range of numerous dishes. In food and nutrition practical work is at the heart of the curriculum with practical’s occurring every two weeks, this enables the students to practice their cooking skills and perfect these skills ready for GCSE. Furthermore, the theory work runs alongside the practical teaching the students vital knowledge on nutrition and food hygiene.

GCSE update

Resistant materials and textiles

The exam board has informed the school that the NEA making of the final piece has been dropped and instead the students are expected to make a working model and include evidence of equipment being used. As a result the marking criteria no longer includes the final making marks.

Food and nutrition

The exam board has informed the school that NEA 1 has been dropped and the amount of dishes that students need to make has been reduced to two.

Engineering

The exam board has informed the school that the practical element on the coursework has been dropped and instead the students need to research / write about the processes they would use. This has also effected the marking criteria from 15marks for the making to 10marks.

A Level

This course is split between Beaminster school and The Sir John Colfox Academy.

At the Sir John Colfox Academy we focus primarily on the theory content of the course helping to prepare the students for the exam and building on their knowledge from key stage 4. Alongside the theory small practical activities are completed to help reinforce the theory taught to enable students to use these when they complete their coursework work in year 13.

In year 12 students focus on a variety of drawing types, properties and materials:, leading onto processes and health and safety. Additionally, the maths content is covered where students calculate areas and trigonometry.

In year 13 students focus on design movements, manufacturing techniques, sustainability and legal aspects of design. Additionally to the theory half the time is spent helping the students complete their coursework where the students get the opportunity to design an make their own product

Design and Technology Homework

Year 7	Year 8
Graphic Skills Knowledge Organiser	Graphic Skills
Graphic Skills Homework	Resistant Materials Pull - Along Toy
Resistant Materials CAD CAM	Textiles Knowledge Organiser
Resistant Material Knowledge Organiser
Resistant Materials Homework

Year 9	Year 10
1.5 Mechanisms	1.1 Core Impact of New and Emerging Knowledge
1.6 Electronic Systems	1.2 The Impact of New and Emerging Technologies Knowledge Poster
1.8 Metals Knowledge Poster	1.5 Mechanisms
1.9 Papers and Boards	1.6 Electronic Systems
1.10 Polymers	1.7 Systems
1.12 Timber	1.9 Papers and Boards
Resistant Materials - Engineering

Engineering Homework

Year 9
Autumn 1	Autumn 2
1.1A Material Properties	1.2 Practical Skills
1.1B Metals
1.1C Changing Properties
1.1D Polymers
1.1E Composites
1.1F Timbers and Ceramics


Spring 1
1.3 Energy Sources


Summer 1	Summer 2
Production Plan	Drawing Types

Year 10

Autumn 1	Autumn 2
2.1 Additive Manufacturing	Practical Skills
2.2 Material Removal
2.3 Shape Forming and Manipulation
2.4 Casting & Moulding
2.5 Joining and Assembly

Spring 1
2.6 Heat & Chemical Treatments
2.7 Surface Finishes
3.1 Describing Systems
3.2 Mechanical Systems

Summer 1	Summer 2
3.3 Electrical Systems	Stress and Strain
3.4 Electronic Systems	Youngs
3.5 Pneumatic Systems	Cost and Waste
	Pressure and Force
	Mechanical advantage ratios
	Resistance and Ohms law