D & T Product Design

Course summary

All Design Technology teachers within the department aim to provide a friendly, safe and well equipped environment that gives all pupils the opportunity to independently create a range of solutions to a broad range of tasks or problems, whilst considering the impact on society and the environment. ● To provide pupils with opportunities and encouragement to use their intellectual and practical skills to solve problems initially by research and analysis, and then by having them go on to develop a range of viable solutions which they may manufacture. Various materials and technologies are employed to further these aims. ● To enable pupils to test the validity of their solution/s by providing them with the skills to make and evaluate a product. ● To establish an understanding of working materials and systems in a safe manner. ● To establish an understanding of basic technological concepts and their application. ● To develop the ability to communicate, verbally, visually, and by written means, all matters relating to the design/make process. ● To provide the opportunity for knowledge gained to be applied creatively. ● To stimulate and enlarge pupils’ attributes of initiative, ingenuity, resourcefulness, self-involvement, co-operation, patience, sensitivity and commitment. ● To endow pupils with an appreciation of design and a discerning attitude towards manufactured artifacts and quality of work. CURRICULUM KS5 follows the AQA Product Design syllabus for their A-Level studies. This is a new specification which began teaching in 2017 and, amongst many topic areas, will test the students’ abilities in understanding: ● Historical, social, cultural and economical influence on design and technology ● Develop practical skills throughout the making of prototypes, including technical drawing skills ● Independent analysis and creative thinking, including ● Identify, investigate and outline design possibilities ● Technical principles including, material properties, scales of production and manufacturing techniques