Design and Technology

DT
Context: The rate of greenhouse gases and carbon produced during the manufacture of predominantly plastic products is increasing.

How can the use of plastics be reduced?

Students are given the task to assist a local toy manufacturer by designing and manufacturing an interactive toy which uses renewable resources and reduces plastic waste.

Students consider what makes a good designer, exploring different ways of solving problems. Students design solutions and go onto manufacture their own individual design using the tools, equipment and machinery available in our extensive design and technology department. Students also develop their DT materials knowledge in the specialist areas: metals, timbers, plastics, electronics through focused theory lessons.

DT Textiles
Context: When designing a textiles product, it can be challenging to avoid design fixation.

Can you look to the work of others to inspire your designing and making whilst considering sustainability?

As an introduction to textiles technology students are introduced to the textiles workshop and its health and safety, learning how to use tools and equipment safely whilst developing their dextrous skills. At its design core, students work to understand the context of a range of different design movements within our cultural history and use this knowledge to develop their design ideas. Students undertake a practical make that allows them to explore sustainability using a range of techniques and processes to explore their creativity.

Food Preparation and Nutrition
Context:

Can you use the Eatwell Guide and a basic knowledge of nutrition and ingredients to help achieve a healthy balanced diet?

As part of their work with food, pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. This includes:

• Understanding and application of the principles of nutrition and health
• Cooking a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
• Becoming competent in a range of cooking techniques (for example, selecting and preparing ingredients; using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in different ways; using awareness of taste, texture and smell to decide how to season dishes and combine ingredients; adapting and using their own recipes)
• Understanding the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients

DT+
The DT+ modules in Design and Technology include 3-week modules that introduce important aspects that underpin other areas of the subject. In these modules’ students have the opportunity to design and make using software, tools, equipment and machinery. Developing their awareness, abilities and appreciation for the designed world. In Y7 our DT+ is broken down into three projects;

TinkerCAD
Students are introduced to the world of TinkerCAD. They develop their understanding of the programme using the online lesson tutorials and then move onto the project context.

Context: Landing on the lunar surface is very difficult because of the Moon’s lack of atmosphere; friction cannot be used to reduce speed and parachutes are of no use for the same reason. Very careful deceleration of the engines is required, landing gently on the rocky surface, avoiding possible destruction of the module or disturbing layers of dust that could affect instruments.

Imagine you are aerospace engineers. You must design and build a simple lander to protect two ‘astronauts’ when they land. The lander must be able to carry a ‘cabin’ containing the ‘astronauts’ and land upright when dropped without damage to the lander or loss of astronauts.

E-Textiles
Students are introduced to the developing world of E-Textiles where electronics are incorporated into sportswear that can measure, track and feedback information to assist the wearer. They are introduced to basic electronics and build a simple circuit that can be embedded into a rucksack through the project context.

Context: E-textiles is emerging as an asset in technical clothing.

Can you sample a basic circuit that can be incorporated into a rucksack?

Chocolate mould
Students learn about the vacuum forming process, food packaging design & the promotion of chocolate through this exciting project. They learn about plastics, moulding and forming, before creating their own shape and packaging. The project culminates with students making their chocolate design for them to eat.

Context: Food manufacturers must make important decisions about how they package food products to sell to make them not only appealing and informative but also sustainable and suitable for use.

Can you design and make a new packaging in order to showcase a new range of chocolate?

DT
Context: It is widely recognised that our environment has an effect on our mental health. For example, feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient Chinese system of balancing our physical environment to promote harmony and a sense of well-being. Many of us spend time indoors working, studying or relaxing at home.

Can you improve a living, working or learning space by creating a small storage/display solution?

As part of this module students will gain an understanding of the importance of design and the wider consequences that this can have on an individual and on society, students will look at how high-quality design can contribute to a positive health and wellbeing.

The module also includes learning about:

• About the materials used to make products
• About the iterative design process
• How to investigate a design context and design problems
• How to explore design solutions through sketching and modelling
• How to use CAD(computer aided design) such as 2D design
• How to use CAM(computer aided manufacture) machines such as the laser cutter and the 3D printer
• How to test and evaluate your ideas and products against a specification

DT Textiles
Context: The rise of plastics in our oceans is a huge concern for us all.

Can you design and create a printed sustainable bag?

The module develops and supports the school’s vision of creating students that are responsible, resilient and reflective. It develops their awareness of the provenance of synthetic fibres and sustainability in terms of plastics and their pollution, focusing on 2 of the 6 R’s; refuse and rethink.

Students develop their understanding of 3D structures and their relationship with the 2D shape through the analysis of existing products; pattern drafting, lay planning, cutting out and manufacturing using a variety of machinery and equipment.

Students develop their understanding of printing techniques and create their own repeat using CAD to be incorporated onto their bag.

Through the revisiting of health and safety in the workshop, the law and BSI students build on the textile techniques they have individually used in Y7 developing their fine motor skills in printing techniques.

Food Preparation and Nutrition
Context: When preparing and buying meals it can be challenging to find foods that provide a balance of nutrients.

Can you plan dishes which focus on incorporating specific nutrients into the diet?

As part of their work with food, pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. This includes:

• Understanding and application of the principles of nutrition and health
• Cooking a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
• Becoming competent in a range of cooking techniques (for example, selecting and preparing ingredients; using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in different ways; using awareness of taste, texture and smell to decide how to season dishes and combine ingredients; adapting and using their own recipes)
• Understanding the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients

DT+
The DT+ modules in Design and Technology include 3-week modules that introduce important aspects that underpin other areas of the subject. In these modules’ students have the opportunity to design and make using software, tools, equipment and machinery. Developing their awareness, abilities and appreciation for the designed world. In Y8 our DT+ is broken down into three projects;

Structures- Designing Bridges
Context: As humans continue to have a significant impact on the environmental stability of the earth, it is becoming evident to see that global warming is having a significant impact on the extreme weather conditions that are occurring on our planet. Heavy rainfall and flash floods have recently seen roads and bridges washed away, leaving towns and villages isolated and making any travel or access to emergency services very difficult.

Can you design an innovative flat pack bridge that can be assembled quickly in times of emergency?

Communication – Drawing in 3D
Context: It is important to communicate our ideas to others clearly on paper.

Can you learn to draw in 3D using isometric and a range of skills so that you can communicate your ideas clearly to others?

The best designers use a variety of a variety of tools and techniques to convey their thoughts and ideas. It takes practice and experience to master these skills. As we become more able to communicate our concepts on paper, we should consider who we are communicating them too and how else we can make our design work talk.

Food and Nutrition – Hello Fresh
Context: When preparing and buying meals it can be challenging to find foods that provide a balance of nutrients.

Can you plan dishes which focus on incorporating specific nutrients into the diet?

With a focus on health and wellbeing, provenance and sustainability, students explore UK food provision relating to the growth market of cook at home/ fresh meal kits. They design a 2-course meal for Hello Fresh, considering the health and wellbeing of consumers (in line with NHS recommendations and guidance and the provision of specific nutrients), the provenance (source) of food ingredients, as well as ingredient sustainability. Students will develop product costing skills, keeping within a budget of £5 per portion or less.

Students will put together and present Hello Fresh style sheets for their dishes, including an ingredients list, step by step making instructions, product visualisation, costing and nutritional information / labelling (created by them using an online nutrition analysis tool).

DT
Context: As the world continues to manufacture products from raw materials it is important to know where resources are from and if they are damaging the environment.

Understanding where materials come from and how they can be used is an important part of protecting our environment. Students will also get the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills by designing and creating a solution to enhance the biodiversity of their local environment. This will also include:

• Learning about biodiversity and the impact that a consumer society has on natural resources and the environment.
• Being able to describe biodiversity and understand what the effect loss of habit will have for plants, animals, and other organisms.

DT Textiles
Context: Designer trends and influences. Making fashion today accessible to all.

In Y9 students work to develop their appreciation and understanding of a wide range of issues surrounding the fashion industry from trends and influences, concept ideas, working with design briefs and specifications, on to manufacturing specifications. They develop their understanding of important design topics such as life cycle analysis and a circular economy whilst exploring techniques and processes to create a unique adaptation of a plain white t-shirt before testing and evaluating against their brief and specification to establish what went well and even better if.

Food Preparation and Nutrition
Context: Appreciating and understanding where food comes from and how it behaves when we cook with it is important.

Learning about biodiversity and the impact that a consumer society has on natural resources and the environment.

As part of their work with food, pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. This includes:

• Understanding and application of the principles of nutrition and health
• Cooking a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
• Becoming competent in a range of cooking techniques (for example, selecting and preparing ingredients; using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in different ways; using awareness of taste, texture and smell to decide how to season dishes and combine ingredients; adapting and using their own recipes)
• Understanding the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients

DT+

The DT+ modules in Design and Technology include 3-week modules that introduce important aspects that underpin other areas of the subject. In these modules’ students have the opportunity to design and make using software, tools, equipment and machinery. Developing their awareness, abilities and appreciation for the designed world. In Y9 our DT+ is broken down into three projects:

Engineering Electronics
Context: The development of the microcontroller had a significant impact on electronic products.

Within this module, you will develop an understanding of what a microcontroller is and how this is used in everyday products that we often take for granted. You will get the opportunity to use software to develop your programming skills and test this against a real-world scenario.

Food and Nutrition – Packaging
Context: Food manufacturers have to make important decisions about how they package food products. Packaging protects foods and helps prevent food waste but, is it easy to use for all users?

Students are challenged to research a specific user group to find out their needs and requirements and use this information to redesign an item of food packaging to make it accessible to all users.

DT – Design Challenge
Context: Students are challenged to design a new product for the Design Museum Shop

The Design Museum in London showcases exhibitions from past and present designers looking at iconic and influential design. Design Ventura works alongside the Design Museum to challenge young people in the real world of design. Students are given a brief and a user group. In teams they are to take on different roles and work together to solve the given problem.