Design Technology - Graphic Products
Aims of the department:
Technology is the creative application of knowledge, skills and understanding, using creative designs and making good quality products which solve problems or satisfy people’s needs.
The department will encourage the pupils to work in a constructive and positive way alongside anyone else whatever their race, colour, creed or status, as everyone is valued equally and given the same opportunities.
They are also encouraged to appreciate the importance of conserving the world’s resources and use of efficient recycling to preserve and sustain them for future generations.
Pupils learn to understand that materials should be selected and used with an awareness of the global environmental impact, and seek sustainable / managed sources of supply.
Teacher : Mr N Thomas B.Ed
Design Technology is taught throughout the school from Reception and Year 1 where stories such as Snow White, Three Little Pigs and The Billy Goats Gruff provide stimulating starting points. In the Junior School, Design Technology activities are linked to topic work. The Senior School pupils develop their practical skills and understanding of design and industrial processes used in manufacture. At the end of KS3 pupils select their options and have the opportunity to follow Graphic Products at GCSE and have nine lessons per fortnight in Years 10 and 11.
Reception and Year 1 pupils making beds for Snow White and the seven dwarfs.
A bed for Snow White and Doc proudly made by reception pupils.
Key Stage 3
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | |
| Christmas Term 1 | Working with wood and plastic. Making moulds and vacuum forming. |
Colour perception Bookmarks Laminating |
Eco Estate Designing and building a housing estate (group and individual work).Making appropriate nets. Using scale. |
| Christmas Term 2 | Theory of plastic in manufacture. Perspective drawing. |
Perfume Boxes Corporate identity Logo1 Nets |
Environmental issues of sustainability. Geothermal, wind, solar energy sources. |
| Easter Term 1 | Pop up cards | Scale Board Games for young travellers. | Shop Front Project. |
| Easter Term 2 | Paper and card mechanisms. | Board Games continued | Point of sale display units drawing/making. |
| Summer Term 1 | Drawing and making cuboid nets | Packaging for purpose. Logo and branding2 | Continue making display units. |
| Summer Term 2 | Font styles, lettering. Desk top publishing. | Business cards and corporate identity. | Rendering techniques manually and using software. |
Key Stage 4
The pupils follow the Edexcel syllabus to take the GCSE in Design Technology Graphic Products at the end of year 11. The pupils participate in a 40 hour allocation of controlled assessments and written examination in the summer term (of Year 11).
The pupils utilise the textbooks published by Edexcel following the Graphic Products syllabus. An excellent range of sample materials and products industrially manufactured are available for the pupils to investigate and disassemble where appropriate. Other supporting material such as DVD is available.
Key skills built upon are:- Thinking creatively
- Solving problems
- Designing products of the future
- Making models
- Testing their own ideas
- Materials and components – understanding about a wide range of materials and components to make informed choices about their uses.
- Industrial and commercial processes – understanding appropriate manufacturing techniques for prototypes, batch production and mass production.
- Analysing products – giving insights into meeting design briefs and manufacturing processes.
- Designing products – Opportunities for being creative and solving design needs and problems.
- Technology – Making use of modern technology, ICT and software packages to support their design work.
- Sustainability – Using energy and materials in a way that minimises the depletion of finite resources, waste production and pollution.
- Ethical design and manufacture – considering the needs of the manufacture and consumer in today’s mass consumer society.
Principles of the Design Technology Department.
The projects covered throughout KS3 and KS4 are exciting and focus on thinking creatively, solving problems and building personal skills, knowledge and confidence. The projects require specific information to be acquired and used as part of the solution. Outcomes can vary greatly according to each individual and no two responses are expected to be the same. Differentiation is provided by giving support to individuals, helping pupils to acquire basic skills and providing extension activities to those more able or whose projects require selected input. Many of the experiences are through a ‘hands on’ approach where the pupils can engage themselves with a tangible activity.
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