Design and Technology
We are very fortunate to have a flexible working space in our custom-built Design studio with state-of-the-art facilities that accommodates our very youngest pupils to our very oldest.
Our equipment includes an extensive range of hand and power tools for creating working models and prototypes:
| Pillar drill | Band facer | Bandsaw |
| Buffer | Scroll saw | Bobbin sander |
| Hot wire strip heater | Hot wire sculptor | Vacuum former |
| CNC laser cutter | CNC vinyl cutter | 3D printer |
| CAD (computer aided design) suite with laptops | Virtual reality headset for CAD |
KS3 DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Pupils in KS3 study Design Technology subjects which operate as a carousel system including: Design, Outdoor Learning, Food Preparation and Nutrition, and Textiles.
Students will alternate between Design and Outdoor Learning, experiencing three half terms of each, as well as alternating between Food Preparation and Nutrition and Textiles.
During these lessons, pupils learn how to use all equipment safely and develop their understanding of health and safety in the workshop.
Examples of projects that pupils will study in each year are:
YEAR 7
Year 7 Design: Wooden Robot Figures
Students will learn how to use all workshop equipment safely and develop their understanding of health and safety.
Year 7 Outdoor Learning
Different activities will take place depending on the weather. These may include basic horticulture, planting seedlings and bulbs, pruning and garden maintenance, wildlife identification, monitoring and information gathering.
Pupils will also learn practical skills such as tying knots, whittling with knives, camp/den building, using and maintaining tools safely, building lighting and maintaining a fire, campfire cooking.
Year 7 Food & Nutrition: Carbohydrate Dishes
Practical tasks include making bread, cakes and pasta dishes. For more information on the GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition click here.
Year 7 Textiles: Quilted Batik Cushion Cover ‘The Natural World’
Pupils will use practical skills to design and make a batik dyed piece of fabric and create a bespoke pattern or picture inspired by ‘The Natural World’.
Year 8
Year 8 Design: USB Desk Light
Students learn about soldering electronic components and the use of CAD/CAM and develop their skills using hand tools and machinery.
Year 8 Outdoor Learning
Different activities will take place depending on the weather. These may include habitat exploration, species identification, nature mapping, wildlife identification, monitoring and information gathering. Pupils will learn practical skills such as tying knots, whittling with knives, camp/den building, using and maintaining tools safely, building lighting and maintaining a fire, campfire cooking and an introduction to willow weaving and other traditional crafts.
Year 8 Food & Nutrition: Protein Dishes
Practical tasks include making pastry, main courses and desserts.
Year 8 Textile: Printed Tote Bag – ‘The Seasons’
Students design and make a batik dyed piece of fabric to create a bespoke pattern or picture inspired by ‘The Natural World’.
Year 9
Year 9 Design: Jewellery Box
Students use hand skills to manufacture a jewellery box out of pine, plywood and veneer using parquetry techniques to decorate the box.
Year 9 Outdoor Learning: Pupils learn practical skills like how to cooking safely outdoors. They also develop navigation, route planning and leadership skills through outdoor expeditions.
Year 9 Food & Nutrition: Multicultural Food
Students will plan, prepare and present a wide variety of complex practical dishes, with a focus on developing technical skills for more specialist dishes such as homemade pasta.
Year 9 Textiles: Slow Fashion ‘Reduce Reuse Upcycle’
Students will learn about fast fashion and the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. They will learn practical mending skills and embellishing techniques such as Sashiko embroidery, appliqué, reverse appliqué and printing. They will also have the opportunity to ‘upcycle’ a piece of clothing using the techniques learnt.