Curriculum Intent
In Design and Technology, we offer a broad, balanced curriculum that ensures students master the relevant knowledge, concepts, and skills of a wide range of disciplines, whilst fostering a life-long love of learning. The department aims to prepare students with the skills and knowledge for the world outside the classroom, enabling them to be creative innovators and experience life to the full, both in the world of work and leisure for their future.
Pupils study Design Technology through project-based tasks. The curriculum teaches pupils to think creatively, and it encourages them to solve problems in innovative ways. They are given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present designers and will use an iterative design process, in textiles, food and design technology. Pupils will learn how to apply their knowledge and understanding to solve problems in an exciting and engaging way. Pupils will become confident, competent, and creative designers who can think critically within a range of contexts.
Pupils are also given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present designers in technology and are encouraged to become innovators and risk-takers themselves.
Technology Learning Journeys
‘Design Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.’
We are extremely passionate about our subject and very proud of our department and its achievements. The above quote perfectly summarises our department and everything we aim to achieve daily.
In all years within Technology, we deliver a wide range of projects that use a number of different materials, processes and techniques to allow students to design and manufacture quality, practical outcomes that address real life issues.
The department itself is extremely well equipped to allow us to achieve this and we are fortunate enough to have a wide range of facilities and purpose-built classrooms. These include: two Resistant Materials workshops, one CAD CAM suit and one Graphic Products room. We also have two Food Technology rooms and one Textiles Technology suite.
Keystage 3
The Design and Technology department at English Martyrs School are committed to delivering a curriculum accessible to all which provides the broadest possible range of opportunities for students. The department firmly believes that pupils learn best by ‘doing’ and by allowing pupils to experiment and take design risks, in a safe and positive learning environment. Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to ensure progressive learning and to help our pupils successfully transfer into KS4 with the correct skills, knowledge and understanding to succeed. Throughout KS3 In year 7 pupils spend half the year in food and half the year in resistant materials. In years 8 and 9 pupils study Technology two times a fortnight and spend one term in each specialism including food, textiles, and resistant materials.
Technology KS3 Curriculum Overviews
GCSE
The AQA GCSE Design Technology Specification allows pupils to specialise in textiles products. The Edexcel GCSE Design Technology allows pupils to specialise in timbers. Pupil’s will build on their skills, knowledge and understanding from Key Stage 3
In year 10 pupils’ study through project-based tasks. The curriculum teaches pupils to think creatively, and it encourages them to solve problems in innovative ways. They are given opportunities to reflect upon and evaluate past and present designers and will use an iterative design process, in textiles, food and design technology. Pupils will learn how to apply their knowledge and understanding to solve real-world problems in an exciting and engaging way. In year 11 Pupils will complete the NEA task set by AQA and will become confident, competent, and creative designers who can think critically within a range of contexts.
WJEC Hospitality and Catering offers an engaging and stimulating introduction into the world of the Hospitality and Catering industry, giving pupils the opportunity to develop knowledge in all industry areas and practical technical skills. Pupils explore a range of establishments, services provided, health and safety, job roles along with high skill planning, making and presentation skills and techniques.
Pupils are given the opportunity to develop an understanding for the Hospitality and Catering industry using real life case scenarios. A range of basic, medium, and complex level skills are taught through hands on practical lessons. Pupils can explore a range of practical techniques by adapting ingredients to suit individual needs and will present dishes using a variety of methods.
Technology GCSE Curriculum Overviews
Sixth Form
If students decide to enrol at the Sixth Form, they have the option to study A-level Fashion and Textiles here in the Technology department.
On this course students are taught theory and workshop based manufacturing as well as 3D design skills at different points throughout the course to allow them to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding to succeed in both coursework and exam based units.
A-level Fashion and Textiles consists of three units, two of which are exam based and one which is coursework based. The coursework based unit accounts for 50% of the overall qualification and is a design and make task where students can choose their own project and write their own brief. The two exam units make up the remaining 50% of the qualification and consist of a mix of short answer, multiple choice questions to extended response, essay-type questions.