Design Technology

Key Stage 3

In Key Stage 3 we follow the National Curriculum for Design and Technology.

At key stage 3 all students study Design and Technology on a rotation system. The focus of each area is predominantly on practical work, teaching students the practical skills they need to be able to produce a wide range of products. In addition to the practical skills, students are taught key knowledge and skills. Numeracy and literacy play a key part in the delivery of the DT curriculum.

The scheme of learning progresses from making items for themselves onto making items for others and then specific clients and groups in society.

KS3 Food Technology – Curriculum

KS3 Food provides students with essential knowledge and practical skills to make informed choices about diet, nutrition, and food preparation. It encourages creativity, independence, and an understanding of the impact of food on health and the environment.

Key Aims:

• Healthy Eating: Teach the principles of nutrition and the Eatwell Guide to promote balanced diets.
• Practical Skills: Develop confidence in preparing and cooking a variety of dishes safely and hygienically.
• Food Science: Explore how ingredients behave and interact during cooking processes.
• Cultural Awareness: Introduce global cuisines and the role of food in different cultures.
• Sustainability: Highlight issues such as food waste, seasonality, and ethical choices.

Skills Developed:

• Knife skills and safe use of equipment
• Cooking methods (baking, boiling, frying, grilling)
• Time management and organisation
• Evaluating and adapting recipes

Progression:

Students build from foundation skills in Year 7 to more complex dishes and emerging techniques in Year 9, preparing them for WJEC Hospitality & Catering.

KS3 3D Design – Curriculum

KS3 3D Design introduces students to the principles of designing and creating three-dimensional products using a range of materials and techniques. It develops creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills while encouraging students to think about functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability.

Key Aims:

• Design Thinking: Teach students how to research, generate ideas, and develop design concepts for 3D products.
• Material Knowledge: Explore properties and uses of materials such as wood, metal, plastics, and mixed media.
• Practical Skills: Develop competence in hand tools, machinery, and digital technologies (CAD/CAM).
• Sustainability & Ethics: Promote awareness of environmental impact, recycling, and responsible design choices.
• Critical Evaluation: Encourage students to analyse and refine their work through iterative design processes.

Skills Developed:

• Sketching and visual communication
• Model making and prototyping
• Safe use of tools and equipment
• CAD software for 3D modelling
• Joining, shaping, and finishing techniques

Progression:

Students begin with foundation design principles and projects in Year 7, moving towards more complex, functional products and digital integration by Year 9. This prepares them for Art & Design (3D Design) and/or Engineering.

KS3 Graphic Design – Curriculum

KS3 Graphics introduces students to visual communication and creative problem-solving through design. It focuses on developing skills in presenting ideas effectively using both traditional and digital media, preparing students for careers in design, advertising, and creative industries.

Key Aims:

• Design Communication: Teach students how to convey ideas visually through sketching, rendering, and layout.
• Digital Skills: Develop competence in industry-standard software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and CAD tools.
• Creative Thinking: Encourage innovative approaches to branding, packaging, and promotional design.
• Typography & Composition: Explore the principles of layout, color theory, and font selection for effective communication.
• Sustainability & Ethics: Promote awareness of responsible design practices and environmental impact in graphics production.

Skills Developed:

• Hand-drawn sketching and presentation techniques
• Digital image manipulation and vector graphics
• Understanding of design briefs and target audiences
• Use of colour, typography, and composition principles
• Critical evaluation and iterative design

Progression:

Students start with foundation visual communication and design tasks in Year 7, moving towards more complex projects involving branding, packaging, and digital media by Year 9. This provides a strong foundation for GCSE Art & Design (Graphics).

KS3 Engineering – Curriculum

KS3 Engineering introduces students to the principles of designing, making, and understanding engineered products and systems. It focuses on problem-solving, technical knowledge, and practical skills that prepare learners for modern industry and future careers.

Key Aims:

• Engineering Principles: Develop understanding of forces, mechanisms, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Design & Innovation: Encourage creative solutions to real-world problems using iterative design processes.
• Practical Skills: Build competence in using tools, machinery, and digital technologies (CAD/CAM).
• STEM Integration: Apply science, technology, and mathematics in practical engineering contexts.
• Sustainability & Ethics: Promote responsible design choices considering environmental and social impact.

Skills Developed:

• Technical drawing and CAD modelling
• Safe use of workshop tools and equipment
• Understanding mechanical systems and structures
• Problem-solving and project planning
• Testing and evaluating prototypes

Progression:

Students are introduced to Engineering in Year 9 drawing knowledge from Year 7 and 3D Design lessons moving towards more complex systems and manufacturing techniques by Year 9. This provides a strong foundation for WJEC Engineering

Key Stage 4 Options

Our curriculum in years 10 and 11 reflects the interests of students. .

Below are the courses we currently deliver within the Department with a link to the exam specification.

3D Design

The GCSE specification for the course can be found here

Student’s work will be Assessed through two Components.

In Component 1 (Coursework 60%) students will research and investigate sources of ideas in Art, Craft & Design. They will explore and use Art, Craft & Design material and techniques to develop visual language. Students will complete a portfolio or sketchbook demonstrating their creative journey. This should be evidence of the process of developing both ideas and work. It should demonstrate research, supporting studies and work, showing the development of their ideas, leading to finished pieces.

Structures  – During this project pupils will explore the work of Wyndham Lewis and Denys Lasdun. Students will have the opportunity to visit Liverpool to allow them to gather photographs that will aid their development. With these photographs, students will experiment, explore and develop a variety of responses in 2D and 3D. All experiments will lead to a final 3D outcome.

Art Deco light – Students will respond to a brief for a Art Deco light, looking at the movement Art Deco and the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Students will then research, develop and refine in a variety of materials, media and techniques before creating their final outcome.

In Component 2 (Exam 40%), the exam board provides students with a theme for their exam. Students are given a number of weeks to develop ideas and prepare. Students sit a 10-hour exam in Year 11 in which they produce their final outcome.

Graphic Design

The GCSE specification for the course can be found here

Students work will be assessed through two Components.

In Component 1 (Coursework 60%) students will research and investigate sources of ideas in Art, Craft & Design. They will explore and use Art, Craft & Design material and techniques to develop visual language. Students will complete a portfolio or sketchbook demonstrating their creative journey. This should be evidence of the process of developing both ideas and work. It should demonstrate research, supporting studies and work, showing the development of their ideas, leading to finished pieces.

Music Festivals – Students will be set a brief from a Music Festival company to create the branding for an up and coming Festival in Liverpool in the summer. Students will take photographs that relate to the project and then develop their brand promotion through logo design, poster and merchandise.

Messages – Students will select their own message to promote; for example, road safety or stay safe online. Students will then gather their own photography before experimenting with materials, Photoshop and media

In Component 2 (Exam 40%), the exam board provides students with a theme for their exam. Students are given a number of weeks to develop ideas and prepare. Students sit a 10-hour exam in Year 11 in which they produce their final outcome.

Child Development

The course specification for the course can be found here

Year 10

Component 1, students will gain knowledge of the principles of growth and development, including expected development milestones, for different age ranges across all five areas of development; physical, intellectual and cognitive, communication and language, social and emotional. Students will explore how different factors can positively or negatively impact different areas of a child’s expected development.

In Component 2, students will explore different stages and types of play and how play activities can support and promote children’s development and learning across the five areas of development between the ages of birth and five years old. Students will investigate the different learning needs of children at different ages and stages and learn how to plan and structure play activities to meet those learning needs and encourage and influence learning, while considering the role of adults in promoting children’s learning and development through play both at home and in the community.

Year 11

In Component 3, students will develop an understanding of how children’s learning and development can be affected by their individual circumstances. Students will investigate the importance of inclusion and the role of an adult in keeping children safe when engaging in play activities and how the environment and play activities can be adapted to support the learning and development of all children.

Engineering

The course specification for the course can be found here

Unit 1 provides learners with the opportunity to interpret different types of engineering information in order to plan how to manufacture engineering products. Learners will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in using a range of engineering tools and equipment in order to manufacture and test an end product

Year 11

Hospitality and Catering

The course specification for the course can be found here

Students undertake the WEJC Technical award in Hospitality and Catering. The course consists of 2 units. Unit 1 The Hospitality and catering industry and unit 2 Hospitality and catering in action.

During year 10 unit one is taught with a written external examination take in June. This unit allows students to understand how the industry and provisions operate, how the industry meets health and safety requirements and know how food can cause ill health.

Unit 2 is completed during year 11 and looks at nutrition and planning meals, menu planning and practical skills. This unit is assessed through a controlled assessment / NEA set by the exam board. Students also have another chance to retake the unit 1 external examination in the June of year