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Design and Technology​​​​​​​

KS3 Curriculum 

Key Themes/Topics Year 7

Food- Safety and hygiene. The Eatwell Guide. Where food comes from.

Healthy eating. Make a variety of dishes suitable for a packed lunch menu. Introduction to food science.

Textiles- Safe use of textiles equipment. Using a sewing machine. Hand sewing and applique. Making an Ugly Doll toy. Sources of textiles materials. How fabrics are made.

Resistant Materials- Developing CAD skills. Safe use of tools. Sources of materials.

Simple perspective drawing. Making wooden robot toy. Making phone/pencil holder using acrylic.

Assessments

Students will be assessed each half term with tests related to the material area they have been working in.  A final assessment at the end of each year will take into consideration all learning in Design and Technology.

Tests will consist of exam style questions and students will be given dedicated revision time before each test.
 

Key Themes/Topics Year 8

Food- Make your own healthy Take-Away. Make a variety of take-away style dishes. Health problems related to obesity. How to avoid food poisoning. Healthy eating for teenagers. Food science experiments.

Textiles- Decorative techniques: hand embroidery, printing on fabric. Create a range of seams. Recycling and re-using fabric. Making gadget holder.

Resistant Materials-Looking at the work of other designers. Creating working drawings. Making a bird house or animal shelter. Considering the environment.

Mechanical devices to produce movement.

Assessments

Students will be assessed each half term with tests related to the material area they have been working in.  A final assessment at the end of each year will take into consideration all learning in Design and Technology.

Tests will consist of exam style questions and students will be given dedicated revision time before each test.
 

Key Themes/Topics Year 9

Food- Food from around the world. Make a variety of traditional dishes. Food choice and religion. Nutrition and dietary needs. Food science experiments.

Textiles- Decorative techniques: Tie dye, heat transfer. More advanced seams and lining. Following a design brief. Making a small purse or pouch bag. Sustainability.  Fair Trade.

Resistant Materials- Becoming a designer. CAD/CAM. Exploded diagrams. Make a Passive Amplifier. Ergonomics and anthropometrics. Make a simple electronic circuit.

Assessments

Students will be assessed each half term with tests related to the material area they have been working in.  A final assessment at the end of each year will take into consideration all learning in Design and Technology.

Tests will consist of exam style questions and students will be given dedicated revision time before each test.

Students in year 9 will be given the option to take additional Design and Technology lessons in preparation for the GCSE course if they are considering choosing this as in option in year 10.
 


KS4 Curriculum 

Exam board and Qualifications

AQA GCSE Design and Technology (1-9)

AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Assessment

AQA GCSE Design and Technology (1-9). Non-examined assessment. Portfolio of up to 20 A3 pages to include: research, design, making of prototype, analysis and evaluation.

Students will write their own design brief after being given a design context.

Written exam to cover core content and technical principles – 2 Hrs.

AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition. Two Non-examined assessments in year 11. One practical exam. Written exam.

NEA1- Food investigation task, linked to food science experimentation. Report of 1500-2000 words.

NEA2- Food preparation task. Portfolio of up to 20 A4 pages to include: research, food preparation tasks linked to skills, planning and preparation of a 3 dish menu.

Practical exam: 3 hour practical in which 3 dishes must be prepared and cooked.

Written exam: 1 hr 45 mins.
 

Key Themes/Topics Year 10

Core Technical Principles

  • new and emerging technologies
  • energy generation and storage
  • developments in new materials
  • systems approach to designing
  • mechanical devices
  • materials and their working properties.

In addition, designing and making practice will take place and students will make a mobile phone holder and a desk lamp.

AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Food preparation skills are integrated into five core topics

  • Food, nutrition and health
  • Food science
  • Food safety
  • Food choice
  • Food provenance.

In addition, students will have opportunities for developing food preparation skills as follows

  • General practical skills
  • Knife skills
  • Preparing fruit and vegetables
  • Use of the cooker
  • Use of equipment
  • Cooking methods
  • Cooking methods
  • Prepare, combine and shape
  • Sauce making
  • Tenderise and marinate
  • Making doughs
  • Raising agents
  • Setting mixtures
     

Recommended revision materials and websites

technologystudent.com

AQA GCSE (9-1) Design and Technology 8552 M. J. Ross

AQA GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Students will receive a user name and password and may access this digital text book from home.

  • GCSE Design & Technology AQA Revision Guide  – these will be supplied to students at the start of Year 11
  • GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition – AQA Revision Guide – these will be supplied to students at the start of Year 11