In year 7, pupils will  study both design and technology and food technology.

In design and technology pupils will make a wooden mechanical toy, combining knowledge of types of motion and newly developed practical woodworking skills. 

In food technology pupils will learn food preparation, knife-handling skills, safety and hygiene, and make a variety of food items culminating in a food design project.

• Year 7 Boys will complete a variety of half-termly assessments (HTAs), which will be set as class- and home-work. Boys will then self-assess.
• In additions to HTAs there will be three common assessment tasks (CATs) per year. These will include practical and written assessments as appropriate.

Some pupils will have a lot of experience in design and technology where others will have very little. Taking a keen interest in the work that is being completed will help pupils develop confidence in the subject that is invaluable in later years.

A lunchtime Design and Technology Club runs throughout the year.

• BBC GCSE Bitesize Design & Technology
• Technology Student
• AQA GCSE course information
• NHS Diet
• Food for life
• BBC Food

In year 8, pupils will  study both design and technology and food technology.

In design and technology the pupils will design and make an automatic nightlight.  This project gives pupils an opportunity to fully exploit the schools CADCAM facilities as well as introducing electronics and manufacturing circuits. 

In Food Technology pupils will build on and continue to develop their practical skills, experiencing more complex recipes.  They will learn about the Eat Well guide and nutrition, considering the nutritional needs of others, focusing on the vegetarian diet.

• A variety of half-termly assessments, which will be set as class and homeworks. 
• In additions to HTAs there will be three CAT tests per year.  These will include practical and written assessments as appropriate.

Taking a keen interest in their projects is always an excellent way to help pupils gain confidence within the subject. Pupils will be introduced to new drawing skills this year that can be challenging and so encouraging practice of these is beneficial.

A lunchtime Design and Technology Club runs throughout the year.

• BBC GCSE Bitesize Design & Technology
• Technology Student
• AQA GCSE course information
• NHS Diet
• Food for life
• BBC Food

Year 9 will have three lessons of Design and Technology every two weeks. 

In the double lesson groups will be split, with half working on a design and technology project and half working on a food technology project. In design and technology pupils will be learning about the iterative design process and designing a multi-tool using this methodology. The split groups will rotate after the first half-term to help pupils make an informed decision about studying Design and Technology at GCSE.

During the Spring and Summer term the split groups will remain in either Food Technology or Design and Technology for the duration of the term, developing practical skills and making the product designed before Christmas. Groups will rotate after the Easter holiday to ensure pupils get a balanced experience of both subjects.

During the single period of design and technology (once every other week) the group will remain as a whole class and will study drawing skills, CADCAM, packaging and marketing skills over the three terms.

In food technology pupils will learn about healthy diets, the dietary needs of different groups of people, the health implications of not following a healthy diet, continue to develop their practical skills, and complete a design project.

• Year 9 boys will complete a variety of half termly assessments, which will be set as class and homeworks. 
• In additions to HTAs there will be three CAT tests per year.  These will include practical and written assessments as appropriate.

Year 9 is when pupils will decide if they wish to continue study the subject at GCSE. Encouraging pupils to ask questions about the potential career paths created by studying design and technology and supporting them in their decision-making is an excellent way to support your son.

A lunchtime Design and Technology Club runs throughout the year.

• BBC GCSE Bitesize Design & Technology
• Technology Student
• AQA GCSE course information
• NHS Diet
• Food for life
• BBC Food

GCSE students will follow the new AQA Design and Technology course. In year 10, existing knowledge about materials, making skills and designing skills will be developed as well as new knowledge acquired about industrial practice, CADCAM and sustainability issues. Pupils will work through several small projects that have both theory and practical elements to help build their knowledge. In the summer term of year 10 pupils will begin their NEA work, completing the initial elements of this before the summer holiday.

• Core technical principles: energy generation and storage, new and emerging technologies, systems approach to design, materials and their working properties.

• Specialist technical principles: selection of materials or components, forces and stresses, ecological and social footprint, sources and origins, using and working with materials, stock forms, types and sizes.

• June onwards: the NEA.

• During Year 10 pupils will undertake three CATS, one of which (during the autumn term) will be practical.
• One HTA per half term will also be set, this may be a piece of classwork or homework and will be used to assess current progress in the subject.
• In June of Year 10 pupils will begin their NEA project, ultimately worth 50% of their GCSE grade.

• Encouraging your son to consolidate their knowledge at the end of each term in year 10.
• Promote the reading of technology and manufacturing articles in newspapers and online to develop a deeper understanding of the subject, its place within society and the way in which new technology is being developed rapidly.
• Ensure that you son attends lunchtime and after school support sessions when they are available.

The department actively encourages pupils to take part in extra-curricular competitions wherever possible. If pupils find a new competition or design opportunity they would like to take part in, then we would love to hear about it!

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552/introduction

http://technologystudent.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zby2bdm

Year 11 pupils will spend the autumn term and a portion of the spring term completing their NEA. This will include the making and testing of a prototype product. The NEA will be run alongside delivery of new examination material as well as revisiting topics to begin revision, and be completed before Easter where the focus will return solely to subject knowledge and the examination. During the autumn term pupils will also visit Jaguar Land Rover’s manufacturing facility in Solihull.

• Core technical principles: new and emerging technologies, mechanical devices.

• Specialist technical principles: scales of production, specialist techniques and processes, surface treatments and finishes, ecological and social footprint.

• During Year 11 pupils will undertake two CATs, one of which (during the autumn term) will be a mock examination.
• One HTA per half term will also be set, focused on developing examination knowledge and technique.
• Year 11 pupils will submit the NEA they began in year 10 before the Easter holiday. This work is worth 50% of their final GCSE grade.
• A two-hour examination paper will be sat in the summer which will test pupils on core technical principles, specialist technical principles and designing and making principles.

• Encouraging your son to consolidate their knowledge at the end of each term.
• Promote the reading of technology and manufacturing articles in newspapers and online to develop a deeper understanding of the subject, its place within society and the fast-paced way in which new technology is being developed.
• Actively seek out work experience if considering a career in the engineering, design or technology sectors.
• Be involved in the NEA work your son brings home: ask him to show you his project and discuss his ideas with you.
• Ensuring that you son attends lunchtime and after-school support sessions when they are available.

The department actively encourages pupils to take part in extra-curricular competitions wherever possible. If pupils find a new competition or design opportunity they would like to take part in, then we would love to hear about it!

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552/introduction

http://technologystudent.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zby2bdm

A Level: in year 12 pupils are challenged to apply their existing knowledge of design and technology to more complex challenges, developing their knowledge and skills as they go. The year involves a variety of projects, each designed to show pupils a new aspect of product design. The course is robust, challenging and designed to test pupils complex problem-solving skills as well as their creativity and communication skills.

In June, pupils will embark on their NEA: this is a substantial design and make project worth 50% of the A Level. Before pupils leave for their summer break they will have explored a context, written a design brief, and begun creating design solutions.

• Technical principles: materials (properties, sources, enhancement, uses), smart materials, modern industrial and commercial practice, digital design and manufacture, health and safety, product design and development, design communication.

• Designing and making principles: iterative design process, design influences and movements, technological and cultural impacts on design, design process, selecting appropriate processes and equipment, design for manufacture and project management.

• An NEA.

Pupils will sit three CATs, examination-style assessments. Six HTAs will also be used to continue the development of both examination theory and technique.

• Encouraging your son to consolidate their knowledge at the end of each term.
• Promote the reading of technology and manufacturing articles in newspapers and online to develop a deeper understanding of the subject, its place within society and the fast-paced way in which new technology is being developed. At least one article a week should be read.
• Actively seek out work experience if considering a career in the engineering, design or technology sectors.
• Be involved in the NEA work your son brings home: ask him to show you his project and discuss his ideas with you.
• Ensure that you son attends lunchtime and after school support sessions when they are available. Where your son has independent study periods encourage him to create a timetable and use them effectively.

• Year 12 students will have the chance to apply to take part in the Engineering Education Scheme, a six month project where they will work in a small team alongside a local engineering firm to complete a live brief.
• The department actively encourages pupils to take part in extra-curricular competitions wherever possible. If pupils find a new competition or design opportunity they would like to take part in, then we would love to hear about it!

In Year 13 pupils will continue working on their NEA, completing and submitting the project (including prototype) before the Easter break. The course will continue to develop their theory knowledge whilst they are working on the NEA, looking in more depth at the theory behind design and how modern designers and companies generate ideas and manufacture their products. By the end of the course our students are capable, confident and innovate young designers with a huge range of skills that can be applied to careers in engineering, design or many other industries.

• Technical principles: enterprise and marketing in product development, feasibility studies, design for manufacturing, maintenance, repair and disposal, intellectual property. 

• Designing and making principles: accuracy in design and manufacture, responsible design, national and international standards in product design.

• An NEA.

Pupils will take two CATs, both of which will be examination-style assessments, and four HTAs which will continue the development of both examination theory and technique.

• Encouraging your son to consolidate their knowledge at the end of each term.
• Promote the reading of technology and manufacturing articles in newspapers and online to develop a deeper understanding of the subject, its place within society and the fast-paced way in which new technology is being developed. At least one article a week should be read.
• Actively seek out work experience if considering a career in the engineering, design or technology sectors.
• Be involved in the NEA work your son brings home, ask him to show you his project and discuss his ideas with you.
• Ensure that you son attends lunchtime and after school support sessions when they are available. Where your son has independent study periods encourage him to create a timetable to use them effectively.

The department actively encourages pupils to take part in extra-curricular competitions wherever possible. If pupils find a new competition or design opportunity they would like to take part in, then we would love to hear about it!