Design & Technology

Mission

gcse history The mission of the Design and Technology department and the GCSE curriculum is to deliver an engaging provision weighted towards theoretical understanding whilst also inspiring & nurturing practical talent, traditional hand skills and modern forms of production.

Aims

Studying Design and Technology at KS3 develops students’ knowledge, skills, and understanding, in a broad range of areas, and prompts engagement in a wide variety of activities.

Students cover a range of resistant material areas, developing hand skills and workshop knowledge. In Year 7, 8, and 9, students develop CAD skills that enable them to access the laser cutter and 3D printer. The main focus is on practical skills, iterative design, and the social impact that material choices and processes make.

Design Technology enables students to develop a critical understanding of the wider world, and how products and processes that we take for granted impact on daily life.

The GCSE Design and Technology pathway is an inspiring, rigorous, and practical subject which prepares all young people to live and work in the designed and made world.

The course, made up of 50% Exam and 50% Non- Exam Assessment (NEA), allows students to develop their understanding of social, moral, and environmental issues that arise though the life cycle of products, along with in depth material and production knowledge.

This qualification focuses on developing practical skills, allowing pupils to manufacture high quality outcomes in their NEA. They will learn about commercial processes and careers in related industries, as well as developing core transferable skills, such as collaboration and communication.

Students will use their creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Five Year Course Plan

Click on the table below to open

Topics in Detail

Year 7

The learning outcomes for Year 7 can be found here

Year 8

The learning outcomes for Year 8 can be found here

Year 9

The learning outcomes for Year 9 can be found here

Year 10

The learning outcomes for Year 10 can be found here

Year 11

The learning outcomes for Year 11 can be found here

For further information on the art curriculum, please email our Head of Science and Technology, Ms Stanley, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..