DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Mr A Young – Head of Department
Mr M Jones
Ms Laura Wright
Mr R Robinson

The department is very successful and has an excellent pass rate at GCSE and A level. All staff work within a happy and relaxed atmosphere, doing their best to ensure that pupils achieve their full potential in this subject area.:

The main aims of the department are:

• To help pupils develop knowledge, skills and understanding in the subject.
• Give all pupils opportunities to develop practical abilities and build self-confidence in a workshop environment.
• Nurture and encourage a pupil's creative talent.
• To design and make artefacts for identified purposes, carefully selecting and using resources effectively.
• To provide activities that give pupils the opportunity to work both individually and as members of a team.
• To ensure academic progression from year to year.
• To develop a technological and creative capability in pupils through activities, which involve a range of materials, contexts and processes, which lead to practical, fully functioning products.
• To ensure that pupils have the theoretical knowledge and practical opportunity to effectively make use of the design process.

Facilities

The Design Centre is very well equipped and houses six teaching areas on three floors for the study of Art, Design & Technology, Electronic Products, Graphic Products, and more traditional woodwork and metalwork activities. The Centre has its own full time technician and IT technical support. We teach in a bright, clean and well-equipped department that has the latest machines, tools and CAD/CAM facilities. Pupil’s work is on display and we hope to help stimulate our students’ minds with up-to-date displays and lesson plans.

Current Courses

Design and Technology is taught to all pupils in years 7 to 9. Pupils are involved in a wide variety of exciting and stimulating design-and-make activities and each of the three teaching staff currently teaches all pupils for one third of the academic year. ‘Rotating’ the pupils in groups of 18 enables them to experience a range of projects and processes, and an opportunity to meet all staff.

In Years 10 & 11 pupils may choose to study GCSE Design & Technology options in: Resistant Materials, Electronic Products or Graphic Products. (AQA)

In Years 12 & 13 we offer AS and A2 courses in Design & Technology: Product Design (AQA).
We encourage students to join Design and Technology related extra curricular activities. All staff offer club sessions during some lunch periods and after school.