Upper Shirley High School - Welcome to Design & Technology

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Welcome to Design & Technology

Aims

In Design and Technology, students are given the opportunity to combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs.

They learn to use current technologies and to consider the impact that future technological developments will have on their lives.

They learn to think creatively and to take steps to improve the quality of life, working both as individuals and as members of a team.

Skills and Processes

In order to learn and progress in Design and Technology, students need to show knowledge, understanding and capability in the following skill areas :

responding creatively and imaginatively to tasks set
generating, communicating, modelling and developing a range of design ideas
drawing upon and applying their knowledge and understanding of a range of materials and ingredients to the design and manufacture of products
using their understanding of the design work of others to inform their own work
drawing up plans and following them to shape, form, assemble and finish materials, ingredients and components into high-quality products
choosing and evaluating appropriate tools, equipment and CAD/CAM facilities
solving technical problems
reflecting critically upon their ideas and products and making changes to improve them

KS3 Curriculum

In September 2008, Design and Technology will be re-introduced into the lower school curriculum and will be taught in accordance with the revised KS3 curriculum for Design and Technology.

Students will follow courses in both Product Design and Food Technology, spending approximately 18 weeks in each area.

Product Design

Students will design and make marketable products using a range of materials e.g. plywood and acrylic, and specialist equipment including a laser cutter.

Skills will be learned and developed through a series of focused practical tasks based primarily upon the use of CAD/CAM in order to reflect industrial practice.

Other study areas will include:

designing skills
product analysis
safe working practices