Design Technology | Dormers Wells High School

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Design Technology

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

The Design and Technology department at Dormers Wells High School is a thriving, creative and exciting place learn. The department delivers Resistant Materials, Textiles, Graphic Products, and Food and Nutrition using specialist facilities such as CAD/CAM (laser cutting and 3 D printing) a modern kitchen and a wealth of software, IT, woodwork and metal work equipment.

Design and Technology is delivered throughout Key Stage 3 on a carousel; so that they can sample the full range of disciplines.

Our objective is to nurture and develop well rounded citizens. We want our students to acquire a level of learning, which will support their journey as potential designers of the future.

Here at Dormers Wells the aim is:

To deliver a broad and varied curriculum, which reflects the needs of society. 
To offer opportunities for students to learn new skills. 
To create resilient learners who are not afraid to make mistakes.
To develop students understanding of the role technology plays in everyday life. 
To help students recognise the potential they have and how their skills acquired in DT/Food are transferrable to all subjects and future careers.

key stage 3

At key stage 3 each Year Group works through a variety of creative projects which allows steady progression in: designing, making, evaluation, technical knowledge and food preparation and nutrition (the areas to be assessed under the new curriculum). The students have the opportunity to study four areas within Design and Technology, on a carousal. The subjects studied are: Resistant Materials, Graphics, Food and Nutrition, and Textiles.

The projects across key stage 3 are primarily skills based, giving students the opportunity to develop and improve through making. The students will learn and develop skills such as: measuring, marking out, cutting or combining a variety of different materials, tools, machines and ingredients to create a desired outcome. The students’ knowledge and understanding of CAD and CAM technologies is developed, ensuring that they are aware of modern manufacturing techniques. This foundation allows students to progress to our GCSE courses.

Students learn how to design using different CAD packages such as; 2D Design, Google Sketch-up, Photoshop and SolidWorks. They are able to make high quality products using specialised CAM equipment.

The aim of the Key stage3 course is to provide students with the essential skills to be able to design and manufacture items and products independently using a wide variety of materials ingredients and processes.

ASSESSMENT

Students are assessed through a combination of classwork and home learning tasks throughout each project.

key stage 4

GCSE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

Design and Technology

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. Our GCSE allows students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques, and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth.

Areas of Design and Technology covered

Resistant Materials, Graphics, Textiles

Exam Board: AQA

UNIT 1

UNIT 2

Written Paper (Exam)

What will be assessed?

2 hours

100 marks

50% of the GCSE

NEA Non Examination Assessment

What's assessed?

Non-exam assessment (NEA): 30–35 hours approx

100 marks
50% of GCSE

Practical application of:

Core technical principles
Specialist technical principles
Designing and making principles

Paper 1: What's assessed

Core technical principles
Specialist technical principles
Designing and making principles In addition:
at least 15% of the exam will assess maths
at least 10% of the exam will assess science.

How it's assessed

Written exam: 2 hours
100 marks
50% of GCSE Questions

Section A – Core technical principles (20 marks) A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions assessing a breadth of technical knowledge and understanding.

Section B – Specialist technical principles (30 marks) Several short answer questions (2–5 marks) and one extended response to assess a more in depth knowledge of technical principles.

Section C – Designing and making principles (50 marks) A mixture of short answer and extended response questions.

Task-Substantial design and make task based on a pre released contextual challenge

Assessment criteria:

Identifying and investigating design possibilities
Producing a design brief and specification
Generating design ideas
Developing design ideas
Realising design ideas
Analysing & evaluating

FOOD PREPARATION AND NUTRITION

AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is a creative course which focuses on practical cooking skills to ensure students develop a thorough understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of food materials. At its heart, this qualification focuses on nurturing students' practical cookery skills to give them a strong understanding of nutrition. Food preparation skills are integrated into five core topics:

Food, nutrition and health
Food science
Food safety
Food choice
Food provenance.

GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition - Exam Board: AQA

COMPONENT 1

COMPONENT 2

Written Paper (Exam)

1 hour 45 mins

100 marks

50% of the GCSE

NEA ( Non-Exam Assessment)

Approximately 45 hours

100 marks

50% of the GCSE

The written paper is divided into two sections;

Paper 1: Food preparation and nutrition What's assessed ?

Theoretical knowledge of food preparation and nutrition from Sections 1 to 5.

How it's assessed?

Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
100 marks
50% of GCSE Questions
Multiple choice questions (20 marks)
Five questions each with a number of sub questions (80 marks)

What's assessed?

Task 1: Food investigation (30 marks) Students' understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. Practical investigations are a compulsory element of this NEA task.

Task 2: Food preparation assessment (70 marks) Students' knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking, presentation of food and application of nutrition related to the chosen task.

Students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes within a single period of no more than three hours, planning in advance how this will be achieved.

How it's assessed?

Task 1: Written or electronic report (1,500–2,000 words) including photographic evidence of the practical investigation.
Task 2: Written or electronic portfolio including photographic evidence. Photographic evidence of the three final dishes must be included.

recommended websites to help students achieve

General Websites:

HOW STUFF WORKS | LINK

DESIGN AND TECH. ONLINE | LINK

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY. ON THE WEB | LINK

TECHNOLOGY STUDENT | LINK

MR D & T | LINK

AQA EXAMINATION BOARD | LINK

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION | LINK

BBC GCSE REVISION | LINK

V&A MUSEUM | LINK

DESIGNERS GUIDE TO MANUFACTURING | LINK