Design & Technology
Design & Technology is a popular and successful part of the school curriculum and provides many different practical opportunities for the students.
Acting Head of Department: Mr G Lloyd Email: gl@bws.wilts.sch.uk
DT Teacher: Mr O Bonar Email: oob@bws.wilts.sch.uk
DT Teacher: Dr G Davies Email: gnd@bws.wilts.sch.uk
At KS3 the Department aims to provide students with the opportunity to combine creative thinking and independent learning with the development of practical and technological skills to design and make products.
Students are encouraged to become independent learners and more globally responsible through looking at materials and their recycling, as well as developments in technology and sustainable energy. This understanding is developed further if students move on to GCSE and A-level courses.
The department has two specialist DT rooms and a dedicated IT suite with access to the latest CAD/CAM software to support the students’ learning.
Key Stage 3
A programme has been designed so that all students follow a common foundation course. Design and Technology is compulsory in the lower school and students can opt to study the subject at GCSE and A-Level. The emphasis is to provide all students with a course that offers a rich experience and develops capability in all areas of study. The main elements of the course are related to designing and manufacturing products.
Students have a double period of Design and Technology in years 7, 8 and 9 during which they will gain experience in designing and making in a range of different materials and learn a wide range of making skills.
All KS3 students are introduced to three key elements of DT:
Designing: This will include research and analysis, ideas, sketching, model making, teamwork and the use of ICT.
Making: This will include the use of tools, machinery, processes, material construction techniques, drawing and planning.
Theoretical Knowledge: This will include electronics, material technologies and industrial practices.
Student should provide the following equipment for the subject, which they need to ensure is brought to each lesson:
- HB Pencils
- Coloured Pencils
- Black Fine Line Pen
- 300mm Ruler
- Glue Stick
DT Homework is set in line with the school Homework Policy.
Year 7 - Resistant Materials
The Year 7 course starts with an introduction to health and safety in the workshop, then progresses on to a basic understanding of the safe and effective use of a variety of workshop tools. Through designing and making of projects across the year, they will also learn about the full design process and how it works. Some examples include:
Gravity Racer: The project focuses on introducing students to the workshops. From prepared materials, the students design and make a small racing car. On completion, it is tested to see how far it will travel using an incline as the starting point. The design process allows the students to take an iterative approach and use problem solving to reach their final design.
Photo Frame: The project introduces students to the use of more traditional workshop equipment, combined with CAD (TechSoft 2D) and CAM processes (laser cutter/engraver) to produce a personalised photo frame.
Mobile Phone Holder: The project introduces the students to plastics. They will learn how acrylic can be cut, shaped and formed. They will be able to further develop their CAD/CAM knowledge by using the vinyl cutting machine to produce personalised graphics for their project.
Year 8 - Resistant Materials
The Year 8 course is designed to develop the students’ problem-solving skills and expand their knowledge of industrial practices. This is achieved through a range of projects that develop their skills using a variety of production methods. These projects include the following:
Maze Game: With the emphasis on learning about types of batch and mass production methods, students use CAD (Computer Aided Design) software to design detailed mazes that will be cut on the department laser cutter. The students then handmake the base and accurately fit a clear acrylic lid.
Mood Light: With the emphasis on aesthetics, students design an outline shape for a lamp using CAD. This is produced on the laser cutter using translucent fluorescent acrylic. To support the design, a base is then made and fitted with a LED array, which shines light up through the acrylic.
Systems & Control: Using the on-line MakeCode Editor, the students learn to program a BBC micro:bit controller, adopting a block programming methodology. After completing initial tutorial sessions, the students then progress on to developing more advanced code to control a two-wheeled buggy (Bit:Bot XL) with a view to solving and overcoming a number of ‘road’ challenges.
Structures: With the emphasis on construction materials, students are tasked to build a bridge across a 300mm span on a purpose-built testing rig. The aim is for the bridge to hold as much weight as possible before the design fails, testing their problem-solving skills and enabling them to learn key structural techniques for later projects.
In addition to these projects, students spend a 5-week block in the Food Technology room learning basic food preparation and cooking skills, whilst making both savoury and sweet dishes.
Year 9
In Year 9, the students are expected to draw upon their previous learning to fully research, design and make various projects. These include:
Clock Project: This project focuses on the use of plastic in design, using mainly acrylic and vinyl plastic for added detail. The students independently use a CNC machine to cut the vinyl into intricate shapes to a professional standard.
Desk Tidy: Based on their chosen theme – This project introduces students to shaping and forming metal and using it in combination with a range of materials including pine and acrylic. This exposes students to the problems that may occur when combining materials with very different properties and the need to carefully consider the types of joints and fixing methods that can be used.
Graphics Project: This project is used to introduce students to a range of graphic techniques, including hand drawing and CAD based techniques. The focus is on developing skills to enhance the presentation of their work.
GCSE
The Design and Technology department currently offers the Cambridge iGCSE (9–1) Design & Technology course.
Cambridge iGCSE (9–1) Design & Technology enables learners to identify, consider and solve problems through creative thinking. Students will gain technical and design awareness and develop skills such as initiative, resourcefulness, enquiry and ingenuity. They also develop the communication skills central to the design process.
Cambridge iGCSE (9–1) Design & Technology provides an ideal basis for further study and equips learners with technical knowledge and practical designing and making skills for the world of work. The syllabus is designed to accommodate a wide range of interests, materials and resources.
The iGCSE consists of 2 written papers, each worth 25% of the available marks, plus a design and make project worth 50%.
Paper 1 is a written/drawing paper, of 1 hour 15 minutes which is based on Product Design. Candidates answer one of three questions which assess their design understanding and abilities.
Paper 2 is a written paper of 1 hour, which assesses the Specialist option, Resistant Materials, as well as the Common content: Product Design. Section A contains 10 compulsory questions, and in section B, candidates choose one out of three questions.
Design and make project: The remaining 50% of the available marks are awarded for a School-based project, internally assessed, but externally moderated. Each candidate will produce a design folder and a made product. The project area is decided by the candidate with advice, as appropriate, from their teacher. Candidates are encouraged to make full use of the wide range of ICT available in school for design work. Freehand sketches and hand drawn technical drawings and computer-aided design (CAD) generated drawings are acceptable. The school provides both traditional workshop facilities, as well as computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Candidates are encouraged to make full use of this type of equipment, which includes a CNC laser cutter/engraver and CNC router.
