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Netherthorpe School

Netherthorpe
School

Technology

Head of Department - Miss L Beattie

September—December  2020

KS3 Design Technology lessons are very different this year due to them being taught in non-specialist rooms and so we are completing a packaging project which sees students practising / improving some fundamental analysing, drawing, designing, developing, modelling and evaluation skills that are common across all the different subject areas.  Students will be expected to use these skills in Year 10 and beyond should they choose a Design Technology option.    The project has the same format in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, but the difficulty of the skill being taught will increase for the older students as will the expectations for the quality of outcome.   We are hoping to get back to our usual rotation system at KS3 as soon as possible, in which case the projects below will come in to fruition.

Students will rotate around Design Technology, Food and Engineering completing up to two projects in each 10 week cycle.

KS3

Year 7

Design and Technology

Students will complete two different CAD based projects within the 10 weeks.

In the first project students will design and make a VIP pass based on a festival of their choice. Students will be using Photoshop to create the pass that will then be laminated. Students will receive a lanyard so they are able to wear their passes.

The second project they will complete is an Earphone Wrap. They will design and make the product that will be sold in one of the following tourist attractions, The Deep, Drayton Manor and The Eden Project. The students will design the Earphone Wrap on 2D design and then it will be made using the laser cutter.

Students will also complete a 10 week project where they will design and manufacture a lighting product around a festival of their choice. The product will include a circuit which the students will solder. CAD/ CAM technology will be used during the rotation to manufacture elements of the product. 

Food

Students will make a limited range of savoury and sweet dishes designed to develop essential food preparation skills. They will also learn the basic principles of food science, health and nutrition through a healthy eating unit and take part in some Science based investigation work to learn the principles of how ingredients function

Engineering

Students will design and make an aluminium screwdriver on the centre lathe during the 10 weeks spent in Engineering. They will practise technical drawing skills as well as modelling a multi tool. 

Year 8

Design and Technology

Students will complete a skills based project based upon a current environmental issue over 10 weeks. They will design and make a Bee/Insect hotel. Students will develop a range of hand skills and create three different wood joints. The outcome will be fully functional.

E – Textiles

Students will be introduced to electronics through a 10 week e - Textiles project where students will design and make an LED badge with the Yorkshire Wildlife Park as a client. The badge will be made using a combination of hand and machine skills using a range of materials and techniques.

Food

Over 10 weeks students will continue to develop their food preparation skills to make a range of savoury and sweet dishes. Students will also explore the function of ingredients and principles of cooking through Science based investigation work.

CAD/CAM

Students will use an industry recognised programme to respond to briefs of their choosing to model parts, assemblies, generate engineering drawings to British standards with increasing level of independence, resilience and creative flair.

Current licences enable students to have a copy of the programme at home should they wish to practice and maintain their skills.

This module supports all technology qualifications at GCSE and 6th form.

Year 9

Design Technology

Students will complete two projects in Design Technology in year 9. In the first project students will have 7 weeks to complete a lamp project. Students will need to identify different ways that the lamp can move and have a lamp shade attached. The lamp needs to stand freely and be made from corrugated card. Students will complete a simple circuit for the light. Through this project students will be developing their iterative design skills.

In their second project over 7 weeks students will look at plastic and ways that waste plastic can be recycled into an environmentally friendly storage item for a teenager. They will then use the iterative design process and experiment with ways of converting plastic into a form that can be used to design and create a functional storage product.

Food

Over a 7 week unit students will build on learning from Y7 and 8 to incorporate aspects of Food and Nutrition at GCSE. As part of their food unit students will look at the nutritional needs of various groups and study the main food commodities such as eggs, meat and fish. Students will make a range of dishes to build the skills and knowledge for the new GCSE course.

Engineering

Students will have 7 weeks to practice their workshop skills. They will model and make a G clamp, firstly out of pine and then out of steel. They will learn about metals and about environmental issues.

KS4

GCSE Design and Technology is a new and exciting course that covers all areas of Design and Technology. Students will study Graphics, Textiles, Product Design and Engineering before deciding on which of these areas to specialise in. This area will be investigated through their coursework (NEA non examination assessment)

Students will be assessed on The Principles of Design and Technology (written exam) and The Iterative Design Challenge (NEA). Both sections will be worth 50% of the overall grade. There will be 15% of the marks awarded for use of mathematic skills in both areas.

In Year 10 students will complete a range of skill based projects and understand the theory that goes alongside these projects. The projects are based on Iterative design. This is where you develop an idea through making and evaluating your project and then improve upon the idea.

Some of the projects you will complete are:    

  • Desk Tidy
  • Tool/Equipment Role
  • Shoe design

The theme/context for the NEA will be released by the exam board on the 1st June. From this date onwards, students will focus on their NEA until the following April.

The NEA will be presented as an e-portfolio.

Students will use free hand sketching and will need to have a good knowledge of 2D design and Solidworks that will help students when it comes to the iterative design section.

Assessment—50% written exam

The Principles of Design and Technology

Assessed through written exam

This section brings together the learners ‘core’ and ‘in-depth’ knowledge and understanding.

  • ‘Core’ knowledge of Design and Technology principles demonstrates learners’ broad   understanding of principles that all learners should have across the subject.
  • ‘In-depth’ knowledge allows learners to focus more directly on at least one main material category, or design engineering.

The Iterative Design Challenge  (NEA) - 50%

Assessed through extended making project

This section offers the opportunity for students to demonstrate understanding of and skills initerative designing, in particular:

  • The interrelated nature of the processes used to identify needs and requirements (explore)
  • Creating solutions to meet those needs (create)
  • Evaluating whether the needs have been met (evaluate).

Engineering - Level 2

OCR National (Level 2) Engineering: Design Engineering

Additional information of use to students/parents during study

This course has been designed in collaboration with experts spanning the breadth of the wide sector of Engineering. The Cambridge Technical Level 2 in Engineering Design will provide students with the skills required when starting out in their chosen career. The course encourages students to work through real life scenarios and develop the necessary skills to overcome any issues which may arise within a career in Engineering. Students will be tasked to complete design briefs for chosen clients and produce prototype solutions.

Students studying Engineering Design will study the processes involved in designing engineering products. They will complete a range of research tasks and practical activities that will help them understand the design specification. Here are a few websites to support learning

KS5

This new A Level in Design and Technology has three endorsed titles connecting knowledge, understanding and skills students will develop to relevant 21st century creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. With a focus on iterative design to equip students with valuable critical thinking skills needed for higher education and industry.

The three routes are:          

  • Product Design
  • Fashion and Textiles
  • Design Engineering

Product Design is focused towards consumer products and applications; their analysis in respect of materials, components, and marketability to understand their selection and uses in industrial and commercial practices of product development.

Fashion and Textiles is focused towards fashion and textiles products and accessories in a range of applications; their analysis in respect of materials, process, trends and use in relation to industrial and commercial practices of fashion and textiles.

Design Engineering is focused towards engineered and electronic products and systems; the analysis of these in respect of function, operation, components and materials, in order to understand their application and uses in engineered products/systems that have commercial viability.

Currently we only deliver Product Design as this was the area the students opted for.

In Year 12 students study skilled based projects. These projects are designed to develop the student’s practical skills and develop their knowledge on a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes. There will be theory completed throughout the different projects.

The projects delivered are:

  • Potatoe Peeler
  • Glue Gun project
  • Social and Moral Issues – Design your own money
  • Alternative Shoe Design
  • Bag for Life
  • Flat Pack Furniture

In the summer term of Y12 the students will start their NEA (Non examined assessment) Students decide on their ‘problem’ and solve it through Iterative Design. They will complete an e-portfolio and produce a prototype model. There will be two written exam papers that will go towards the overall grade.

Food

Food Preparation and Nutrition

Link to past papers: As this is a new qualification there are no past papers but exemplar exam questions and revision information is available at:

Each student has access to an electronic text book which can also be accessed at home :

Username: SNETHER4
Password: STUDENT4

We recommend that you purchase any of the following Revision resources:

  • The Revision Guide GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition for WJEC Eduqas CGP
  • Exam Practice Workbook GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition for WJEC Eduqas CGP
  • My Revision notes GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition, Helen Buckland Hodder Education

Engineering - Level 3

Engineering Level 3

Additional information of use to students/parents during study

Students study units 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10. This subject is taught across Maths, Science and DT curriculum areas and is a ‘true’ STEM subject.

This qualification is an applied qualification and details of endorsement from universities, industry and therefore UCAS points can be found from

Subject brochure

Unit 4 – useful sites

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01246 472220

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