Design & Technology

Introduction to Design and Technology. Pupils have a 1-hour lesson every fortnight and rotate between Resistant Materials and Graphic Products half way through the academic year.

Pupils focus on Health and Safety in the workshop including the use of tools and equipment to complete project based work. A focus on the use of Adobe illustrator in Graphics to build on knowledge and understanding to complete projects with creativity and flare.

Resistant Materials

Understanding the basics within design and Technology in the workshop environment. Rotation of Year 7 classes. September to February or February to July.

Students will study the following to allow them to develop in depth knowledge and a clear understanding of Design and Technology.

• Health and safety in the workshop.
• Research of existing products.
• Initial design stages.
• Use of ICT in Design and Technology.
• Tools and equipment.
• Materials – Woods.
• Manufacturing Processes.
• Testing and Evaluation Process

Graphic Products

Understanding of the rules and design principles of Graphics design (including safety). Drawing software/ Photo editing. Rotation of Year 7 classes. September to February or February to July.

Students will study the rules and principles followed by design task using drawing software. Photograph editing project and development of nets to build on skills and knowledge.

• Graphics rules
• Working of nets
• Intro to drawing software
• CAD nets
• Cad tools
• Layout and setup (including printing)
• Effects and Typography
• Intro to photo editing software
• File type saving
• Importing and exporting files

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Green Power Race car – Pupils engage in engineering and design. The Race car is raced annually where the pupils taking part manage the pits and race against other competitors – application required.
• Chess Club – Chess club is open to all age ranges and give pupils the opportunity to build on thinking skills and problem solving, this is running during lunch times with completions being ran on a regular basis.

Trips

• Aintree Race Day Trip (Race team members only)

Building on previous knowledge pupils focus on the Design Process, including analysis, research, specifications, communication of ideas, making, modifications and evaluation. Resistant Materials focus on the properties of wood and the design of products that are aimed at specific targets. Graphic Products pupils make use of the higher level design skills that the Adobe Design Suite offers to create computer generated images. Whilst the Product Design aspect builds on and consolidates skills and knowledge learnt across Year 8.

Resistant Materials

Term 1: Mixed Materials. Man Made Materials. Paper and Boards. Assessment – AO1 /A02

Students will study the following to allow them to develop skills and knowledge in two material areas. They will be using Graphics and Resistant Material elements and building on prior knowledge.

• Investigation/work of others.
• Design layout and properties
• Use of adobe illustrator.
• Tools and equipment
• Manmade boards/materials.
• Traditional tools and equipment.
• Paper and boards.
• Print finishes
• Production methods.

Graphic Products

Term 2 – Cartoon Development. Design Software – Adobe Illustrator. Assessment – A02 / AO3

Students will study the vector tool and its ability to create powerful graphics.  Use of layers and locking to edit and draw complex images. This enables pupils to practice and extend their skills using this software which is used in industry.

• Drawing software
• Locking and stabilising images
• Transparency function
• Layer functions
• Vector and Bitmap imagery
• Line manipulation
• Advanced Pen functions
• Intro to pathfinder
• Uses and samples
• Shape building (logos development)

Resistant Materials

Term 3: Pinewood. MDF. Acrylic. Assessment – AO1 /AO2

Students actively engage in the processes of design and manufacture to develop as an effective and independent learner

Make decisions, consider sustainability and combine skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make a product which explores

• Aesthetics
• Ergonomics
• Environmental/ Sustainability
• Ethical and Social dimensions
• Idea Expression – 3D drawing.

Analyse existing products and produce practical solutions to needs for their target market.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Green Power Race car – Pupils engage in engineering and design. The Race car is raced annually where the pupils taking part manage the pits and race against other competitors – application required.
• Chess Club – Chess club is open to all age ranges and give pupils the opportunity to build on thinking skills and problem solving, this is running during lunch times with completions being ran on a regular basis.

Trips

• Aintree Race Day Trip (Race team members only)
• Festival of Making – Blackburn Centre

In year 9 pupils focus on expanding their knowledge, understanding and skills through further project based work. They will study a broad range of manufacturing skills include complex joint work and development further development of in depth knowledge. They will engage in higher level processes with the software used in the graphical aspects of Design and Technology.

Resistant Materials

Term 1 : Assessment – AO1 /A02 /AO3

Students will study the following to create, design and manufacture a child’s toy independently, correctly and safely. They are required to reflect on previous knowledge and the introduction of machinery/CADCAM.

• Investigation/Analysis of products.
• Product Disassembly.
• Analysis and evaluation of toy safety and legislation.
• Development of 3D design ideas.
• 3D software for prototyping.
• Manufacturing templates/jigs/fixtures.
• Introduction of machinery when manufacturing.
• Finishing Techniques.
• Product Testing
• Tolerances

Graphic Products

Term 2: Assessment – AO1 /A02 /AO3

Students will study complete a research project on the graphic element of a DVD and Games publications, generating ideas for a graphical project.  High level use of drawing and photo editing software to create complex sign, symbols, imagery, background scenes, typography and layouts.

• Analysis of research
• Analysis of existing products
• Research task including justification of findings
• Background clipping
• Pathfinder (high level) symbols
• Typography (creating outlines)
• Image trace
• Colour manipulation (grayscale, gradients)
• Use of wand and rubber
• Polygonal tool
• Stroke to clean up images
• Effects and manipulation

Resistant Materials

Term 3: Softwood Pine. Manufactured board MDF. Assessment – AO1 /A02 /AO3

Students will generate and communicate their ideas. They express appropriate strategies for the completion of box joint work. The project requires active problem solving and fault finding. Students:

• Apply their knowledge and understanding of materials, and tools to work accurately.
• Use their understanding of others’ designing to inform their own.
• Plan and organise activities and then shape working to correct working errors as the project unfolds.
• Evaluate and solve technical problems.
• Reflect critically when evaluating and modifying their ideas and proposals to improve products throughout their development and manufacture.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Green Power Race car – Pupils engage in engineering and design. The Race car is raced annually where the pupils taking part manage the pits and race against other competitors – application required.
• Chess Club – Chess club is open to all age ranges and give pupils the opportunity to build on thinking skills and problem solving, this is running during lunch times with completions being ran on a regular basis.

Trips

• Aintree Race Day Trip (Race team members only)
• Festival of Making – Blackburn Centre.

Students develop their own design skills and build up knowledge from KS3 covering a wide range of topics. There are a number of small projects to help them develop their skills for year 11.

Pupils will specifically develop their theory and knowledge of the subject, they will complete project based work including manufacturing skills and also develop their examination skills through mock exams across the academic year. They are expected to learn about a wide range of materials ranging from Textiles, Woods, Metals, Smart Materials, paper and boats and more.

Design and Technology

Term 1 : Theory and Project based work.

Pupils will begin their course learning about the different materials and their properties. They will follow the course including all different areas of the subject ranging from production techniques, sustainability and many more areas.

• Theory based learning.
• Research and investigation techniques.
• Drawing techniques
• 3D Prototyping.
• Practical Elements.

Design and Technology

Term 2: Theory and Project based work.

Pupils will continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject and apply the skills they have learnt so far. Focus for this term is to introduce practical elements through their project work.

Use of the following…

• Tools and Equipment Inc. machinery.
• Materials
• Construction technique.
• Manufacturing Processes
• Testing and Evaluation

Design and Technology

Term 3: Theory. NEA Topic to be continued into year 11.

Students will independently develop their design Portfolios as part of their None Exam Assessment (NEA). They will be focusing on the following areas. Areas covered in the NEA Portfolio.

• Investigation
• Analysis
• Design development
• CADCAM
• Planning
• Manufacturing
• Testing and evaluation

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Green Power Race car – Pupils engage in engineering and design. The Race car is raced annually where the pupils taking part manage the pits and race against other competitors – application required.
• Chess Club – Chess club is open to all age ranges and give pupils the opportunity to build on thinking skills and problem solving, this is running during lunch times with completions being ran on a regular basis.

Trips

• Engineering Opportunities within the industry.
• Further Educational Design and Technology specific opportunities with local colleges.
• Aintree Race Day Trip (Race team members only)

Pupils are required to complete their NEA Portfolio (Non Exam Assessment). This makes up 50% of their final grade and gives the pupils the opportunities to explore and develop their own product starting at research and investigation right through to design, manufacturing and evaluation.

Pupils will also sit a mock examination to continually test their knowledge on the subject areas learnt in year 10 including elements of topics covered during their portfolio.

At the end of the course pupils will sit a 2-hour written examination which makes up the remaining 50%.

Design and Technology
Term 1 : Assessment – NEA

Students will independently develop their design Portfolios as part of their None Exam Assessment (NEA).

They will be focusing on the following areas.

Areas covered in the NEA Portfolio.

• Investigation
• Analysis
• Design development
• CADCAM
• Planning
• Manufacturing
• Testing and evaluation

Design and Technology
Term 2: Assessment – NEA. Exam Preparation.

Students will continue to develop their design Portfolios as part of their None Exam Assessment (NEA). They will be focusing on the following areas.

• Completion of manufacturing and modelling.
• Evaluation of the process including manufacturing.

Pupils will complete their None Exam Assessment (NEA) then begin to focus on their Examination.

Lessons will become more theory based looking at revision techniques, exam style questions and recapping topics required.

Design and Technology
Term 3: Exam Preparation.

Students will be focusing on their end of year 2 hour written examination which equates to 50% of their final grade.

• Examination technique.
• Examination content.
• Revision Technique
• Mock questions.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Green Power Race car – Pupils engage in engineering and design. The Race car is raced annually where the pupils taking part manage the pits and race against other competitors – application required.
• Chess Club – Chess club is open to all age ranges and give pupils the opportunity to build on thinking skills and problem solving, this is running during lunch times with completions being ran on a regular basis.

Trips

• Engineering Opportunities within the industry.
• Further Educational Design and Technology specific opportunities with local colleges.