Design Technology and Graphic Products
Design Technology and Graphic Products is taught in a multimedia workshop by one member of staff. A diverse range of specialist skills are covered in the course of study.
The aims of the department are to:
- Encourage technological awareness and confidence so that pupils will be able to play an effective part in the technological world of the twenty-first century;
- Stimulate the development of a range of designing and making skills;
- Develop knowledge and understanding of materials and components, systems and control and structures;
- Develop the pupils’ capability, through combining their designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding to design and make products;
- Encourage the development of problem solving skills.
Design and Technology is compulsory in Years 7-9 where the National Curriculum syllabus is used as the basis for our schemes of work.
In Year 7 pupils study designing and making skills and resistant materials (wood and plastics), which culminates in the completion of a product design brief. In Year 8 pupils concentrate on graphic products, which covers technical drawing and the use ICT graphics software, and the exploration of packaging and graphics through a variety of focussed tasks and design briefs.
In Year 9 Electronic control systems are studied, where skills such as soldering and programming microcontrollers are covered, followed by the completion of an electronic product design and make brief. Pupils work both individually and in groups on all designing and making activities.
We have a good range of machines, hand tools, CAD/CAM and ICT equipment, and all pupils are encouraged to use this in their designing and making activities.
