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The Willink

Design and Technology

The Design and Technology department teaches in mixed ability groups. We aim to produce work that will challenge all students whilst supporting the less able.

Key Staff

  • Mr P Downing - Head of Department
  • Mrs K Jones

Key Stage 3 - Years 7, 8 and 9

Design & Technology Milestone Assessment Schedule 2022/23

Students have four lessons across a two week timetable for one term.

Year 7
Introduction to Design & Technology.

Students spend their first-year learning how to use the full range of materials, hand tools, machines and CAD programs to design and make a colour changing nightlight using timbers, polymers and electronics. 

Year 8
During year 8 the emphasis is on developing problem solving skills through a longer project based around a standard lamp design. This time we develop our understanding of timber joining techniques and use this to produce a design inspired by a period of design history.

Year 9
During the final year of KS3 students have free rein with an open brief to design a product that solves a problem. As well as manufacturing their product students develop further their skills in CAD, hand drawing and modelling.

Key Stage 4 (GCSE) - Years 10 and 11

Students have six lessons across the two week timetable.

We spend every day around things that have been designed; from the buildings we live and work in to the objects we use every day.

Design & Technology explores the design process we go through to create functional products and prototypes in metal, plastics and wood using the full range of facilities including two traditional workshops and a fully equipped CAD/CAM area (3D printing and Laser Cutting).

Homework is set regularly and is based upon developing high level research, design and theory understanding.

Breakdown – NEA, exam percentage (Exam board AQA)
Component 1
Exam 50%
Materials and Components, Industrial and Commercial processes, Analysing and Designing products, Sustainability and Technology.

Component 2
Non-Examined Assessment 50% (Afterschool sessions are essential)
20-page document exploring the design process through:
Research, Designing, Making, Testing and Evaluation

Key Stage 5  (AS/A Level Product Design, Exam board AQA) - Years 12 and 13

Students will study a wide range of materials, manufacturing techniques and processes. Through the course they will develop a good understanding of how designers and makers work, and have worked, in the real world.

Through the AS and A-level course students will build on the skills developed at GCSE applying these to a real-world problem and creating an innovative prototype/model or final product: this will be done using hand tools and traditional machines as well as Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing processes including 3D printing and Laser cutting.

  • Exam 50%
  • Core Technical Principals (Materials, Processes, Product Development and Digital Technologies)
  • Non-Examined Assessment (50%) Substantial Design and Make task (Identifying a project, designing, making and evaluating a prototype)

Key Stage 5 Product Design Course Overview

 

Last Updated November 2023