Hartismere School

"Welcome to Design and Technology"

Design and Technology Staff

Subject Lead: Ms E Thompson (Design and Technology)

Subject Lead: Mrs E Smith (Food Studies)

Technology Faculty: Mr T Kember 

Mission Statement

"To teach innovativeness, risk taking, resilience from mistakes, and designing for a better future. Enjoy the beauty of it."

Enrichment Programme

Throughout KS3, students have the opportunity to experience a wide range of areas via an Enrichment Rotation.

Students spend between 8-10 weeks in any one area.

Enrichment Rotations: Resistant Materials / Graphics / Food Studies / Dance / Cultural Capital / Business Studies

Design and Technology (KS3)

Year 7

Resistant Materials: Workshop Skills Unit

Graphics: Drawing Skills & Packaging Design Unit

Food Studies: Cooking and Nutrition Unit

Year 8

Resistant Materials: Wood Joinery Unit

Graphics: Alphabet Unit

Food Studies: Cooking and Nutrition Unit

Year 9

Resistant Materials: Sustainability and Electronics Unit

Graphics: Iterative Design Process Unit

Food Studies: Cooking and Nutrition Unit

Design and Technology (KS4)

The Design and Technology GCSE aims to prepare students to participate in an increasingly technological world. Taking on what you have learnt in KS3 Design and Technology to a more advanced level.

You will get the opportunity to research into products, create innovative design ideas and apply your technical and practical expertise in producing your own designed products.

Year 10

Units: Units of work vary and often change, in Year 10 you may be involved in the following.

Tote Box (Timber), Eames Elephant (Metals), Desk Tidy (Polymers)

Theory: Core Technical Principles, Specialist Technical Principles and Design and Making Principles

Year 11

NEA (non-exam assessment): Is 50% of the final GCSE mark. This is completed between the summer of Year 10 and spring terms of Year 11. In this you will pick a contextual challenge to design and make using a variety of approaches to materials, tools and skills.  At the end of the course you should be left with a professionally finished product and a supporting evidence folder.

Exam Assessment: Is 50% of the final GCSE mark. A written exam compiling the theoretical knowledge of Design and Technology covering the three technical principles, Core, Specialist and Design and Make. 

Awarding body: AQA GCSE Design and Technology https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552 

Design and Technology: Product Design (KS5)

The Design and Technology: Product Design A Level aims for students to gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers. This A level allows you apply your innovation and imagination to solve real world design problems. 

Year 12

Units: Units of work vary and often change, in Year 12 you may be involved in the following.

Laser Unit (CAD / CAM using polymers and timber), Candle holder or Weathervane (Metals), Educational Children's Toy & Mechanism Unit (Using timber in a practice coursework scenario), Think Circular In Suffolk (A design challenge involving architectural design, sustainable design and interior design).

Theory: Technical Principles and Design and Make Principles

Year 13

NEA (non-exam assessment): Is 50% of the final A Level mark. This is completed between the summer of Year 12 and spring terms of Year 13. In this you will create your own contextual challenge (real world problem) to design and make using a variety of approaches to materials, tools and skills.  At the end of the course you should be left with a professionally finished product and a supporting evidence folder.

Assessment: 

NEA Task - 50%

Paper 1 - Technical Principles (30%)

Paper 2 - Design and Make Principles (20%)

Awarding body: AQA A-Level Design and Technology https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/a-level/design-and-technology-product-design-7552 

Post-18 opportunities:

On successful completion of the course the qualification is particularly appropriate for entry into Higher Education, notably design-based courses. It will also give you an advantage if you are considering entering the workplace for the first time.