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Design and Technology
BackIntroduction
The Design and Technology Department at Abbs Cross encompasses Product Design (AQA Design Technology), Constructing the Built Environment (Eduqas) and Food Preparation and Nutrition (WJEC).
The aim of The Design and Technology department is to offer students the opportunity to explore through a variety of creative and practical activities which foster a love of learning and an enquiring mind. Students are taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in the process of designing and making.
The subject focuses on generating and developing design ideas, mechanisms, structures, electronics and computer aided design (CAD) and manufacture (CAM). These skills are promoted alongside the more traditional skills of realisation in wood, metal and plastic.
Our students learn to use current technologies which provide a clear link to industrial manufacturing processes. This insight into the application of Design Technology in today’s workplace offers students a clear understanding of future career paths relating to the subject, and helps to contextualise their learning.
Food Preparation and Nutrition equips learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science and healthy eating. It encourages learners to make informed decisions about nutrition now and later in life. The subject also allows pupils to experience foods that they may not have come across outside of school.
KS3
Design and Technology
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When? |
Aut Term 1 |
Aut Term 2 |
Spr Term 1 |
Spr Term 2 |
Sum Term 1 |
Sum Term 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Year 7 |
Presentation Skills LED torch Project |
Maze Game Project |
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Year 8 |
Night Light Project |
Night Light Project |
Structures Project |
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Year 9 |
Steady Hand Game Project |
Steady Hand Game Project |
Steady Hand Game Project |
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Food and Nutrition:
Food Preparation and Nutrition equips learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of healthy eating.
All lessons encourage learners to make informed decisions about nutrition now and later in life giving them an insight on healthy dishes, alternative ingredients and a variety of cuisines to broaden their knowledge of different foods.
The subject also encourages pupils to prepare quick and healthy dishes that they may not have the confidence to prepare at home, providing them with lifelong cooking skills. Our students learn to use a variety of equipment, having an understanding of how and why they are used within the kitchen.
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When? |
Aut Term 1 |
Aut Term 2 |
Spr Term 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 7 |
health and safety, hygiene rules and healthy eating |
Cool School Meals |
Cool school meals (nutrition and healthy meals for teenagers) |
| Year 8 |
Come dine with me (learning the bases of a meal and presentation) |
Come dine with me (learning the bases of a meal and presentation) |
Egg Theory - use, structure and composition |
| Year 9 |
Individuals needs task - meals planned and made for specific individuals |
individuals need task - meals planned and made for specific individuals |
Cultural foods different foods eaten by different cultures. Learning faiths and beliefs |
Constructing - The Built Environment (KS4)
(Eduqas – Level 2 award)
Constructing the Built Environment offers a learning experience that focuses on acquiring and applying knowledge, skills and understanding through purposeful tasks set in the construction industry.
The structure of the course is show below:
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Half Term: |
Aut Term 1 |
Aut Term 2 |
Spr Term 1 |
Spr Term 2 |
Sum Term 1 |
Sum Term 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 10 |
Unit 2 Joinery |
Unit 2 Joinery |
Unit 2 Domestic Electrics |
Unit 1 H&S |
Unit 1 H&S |
Unit 1 H&S |
|
Year 11 |
Unit 2 - Bricklaying |
Unit 3 - Planning Construction Projects |
Unit 3 - Planning Construction Projects |
Revision and advanced joinery skills |
Revision |
Examination
The Unit 1 and Unit 3 terminal examinations (worth 50%) are sat as a formal examination at the end of Year 11.
Homework
Students will need to complete a variety of activities outside lesson time. These tasks will be an integral part of their evidence portfolios. Revision topics are set as homework to prepare students for the Unit 1 and Unit 3 examinations.
Future Careers
The construction industry employs over 3 million people in the UK alone and offers a diverse range of employment opportunities. Careers are available in all phases of the construction process including initial ideas and designs, building and the ongoing planning and maintenance of structures. This course will provide individuals with a potential starting point in this highly dynamic industry.
Food Preparation and Nutrition (KS4)
(WJEC)
The specification is designed to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. Coursework consists of TWO internally assessed practical tasks that account for 50% of the overall grade. The final examination accounts for 50% of the overall grade.
Examination
At Key Stage 4 all students will study and complete the WJEC syllabus which comprises of two coursework pieces and one written exam.
Unit 1: Principles of Food Preparation and Nutrition – Written examination: 1 hour 45 minutes 50% of the qualification.
There is one exam paper that will be externally set and marked. All questions are compulsory and targeted at the full range of GCSE grades. The paper will contain short-answer, structured and free response questions drawn from the catering specification
Unit 2: Food Preparation and Nutrition in Action
Assessment 1: The Food Investigation Assessment – 15% of total qualification
A Food Investigation that will include the research and planning of the task, investigate the working characteristics, function and chemical properties of ingredients through practical experimentation and use the findings to achieve a particular result. Analyse and evaluate the task and produce a report which evidences all of the above.
Assessment 2: The Food Preparation Assessment – 35% of total qualification
This assessment assesses the application of knowledge and understanding in relation to selecting dishes and identifying cooking skills/techniques and the execution of practical skills. This assessment will require learners to plan, prepare, cook and present a selection of dishes, to meet particular requirements such as a dietary need, lifestyle choice or specific context.
Assessment 2: The Food Preparation Assessment – 35% of total qualification
This assessment assesses the application of knowledge and understanding in relation to selecting dishes and identifying cooking skills/techniques and the execution of practical skills. This assessment will require learners to plan, prepare, cook and present a selection of dishes, to meet particular requirements such as a dietary need, lifestyle choice or specific context.
|
Half Term |
Aut Term 1 |
Aut Term 2 |
Spr Term 1 |
Spr Term 2 |
Sum Term 1 |
Sum Term 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 10 |
Health and safety, fruit and vegetables food commodity, introduction to food investigations |
Milk, cheese and yoghurt food commodity, cereal food commodity |
Special dietary requirements, basic mixtures, science of food and spoilage |
Provenance, storage, waste and choice factors. NEA assessment 1 focus and practice |
meat, beans and butter food commodities |
Mock NEA and exam, NEA assessment 1 focus |
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Year 11 |
NEA |
NEA |
NEA |
Revision |
Revision |
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Homework
Students will be expected to complete an evaluation for every practical that they perform and also answer practice exam questions, some of which will be extended pieces of writing, that are linked to the theory being taught. The pupils are also expected to bring their ingredients as part of their homework, to allow them to participate in the practical lesson.
Future Careers
Apart from gaining a solid knowledge and range of cooking skills, Students will have the opportunity to progress into careers in Restaurants; Health & social care; Catering and Events.
Design and Technology (KS4)
(AQA)
The GCSE Design and Technology specification sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills required to undertake the iterative design process of exploring, creating and evaluating. Students will be involved in designing and making activities using resistant materials, textiles and electronics. Final assessment is based on a controlled assessment project and an accompanying design folio, as set by the examination board.
Examination
Written paper 50%
Coursework project 50%
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Half Term |
Aut Term 1 |
Aut Term 2 |
Spr Term 1 |
Spr Term 2 |
Sum Term 1 |
Sum Term 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 10 |
Automation & Production in industry Market pull & push Sustainability Renewable material, ethics & energy Systems & motion Smart & modern materials Material Properties |
Material Properties ACCESS FM Designing: Sketch & Model 6R's Properties of materials Stock & Size of materials Tools, equipment and processes Cutting & Forming of materials |
Cutting & Forming of materials Quality control Surface finish of materials Surface finish of materials Forces and Reinforcing Designers & Design companies |
Generating design ideas
Market research Writing design briefs Writing design specifications Types of technical drawings computer based tools |
Materials & Costing
Cutting, Shaping & Forming Tools and tool safety Surface finishing Machinery |
Specialist techniques
Changing properties of materials Scale of production Commercial Processes NEA - beginning research NEA |
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Year 11 |
NEA |
NEA |
NEA |
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Revision |
|
Homework
Homework sheets on coursework content.
Project related work, e.g. investigations, research, analysis etc.
Future Careers
Design and Technology paves a solid path to further education in all aspects of design. Students who have studied Design Technology have gone on to pursue careers in fashion design, product design, graphic design and Engineering.
GCSE Results 2022
Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving
- 70% grades 9-4 in Design and Technology
- 66% grades 9-4 in Food
- 100% grades 9-4 in Construction
GCSE Results 2023
Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving
- 86.7% grades 9-4 in Design and Technology
- 54.5% grades 9-4 in Food
Extra-Curricular/Clubs
- We aim to promote challenge both in lessons and with extra-curricular activities. The provision of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths club (STEM) club offers students the opportunity to extend their cross curricular learning and promotes progress across the ability range.
- Airgineers is a STEM drone Challenge for secondary school age students. As part of the Challenge, students design, build and learn to fly drones in two different classes – Micro and 3S. The drones in the Micro class are smaller and designed for use indoors, while the 3S drone is a high-speed, high performance racing UAV built for high speed flying against other drones outdoors. Students taking part in Airgineers are required to complete the unassembled kit kit, 3D prining the necessary frame components, soldering the electronics and programming the flight controllers.
- H/W will be timetabled on Google classroom for all years
