Design Technology

Within our Design and Technology department, students study a range of different subjects including Graphics, Textiles and Fashion, Food and Nutrition and Product Design.  

Year 7 DT

Year 8 DTYear 9 DTYear 10 TextilesYear 10 Hospitality and CateringYear 11 TextilesYear 11 Hospitality and Catering

As a department we offer our children and local community the very best quality of design education. Lessons are ambitious, fast paced and vibrant.  We strive to support our students to be inquisitive designers, to know about why materials/ingredients behave as they do, to ask questions and to be excited by our ever changing world.  We challenge our students to be able to adapt to change within industry, to understand what is happening in our environment and to be up to date with current trends.  

As a department, it is our ambition to give our students the very best of opportunities to rise to the challenge and to embrace the most fantastic subject, therefore, we have built a curriculum that will allow them to do that. We use the National Curriculum as a foundation for our Key Stage 3, but we also include other core values that we consider are important for our students and community at Wayland Academy.  Students are actively encouraged to develop their own interests across all subjects, whilst still building and creating a repertoire of knowledge in all areas. This approach creates a broad experience for all students, it is incredibly inclusive and allows us to teach the key knowledge in the right order at the right time. It is our intention as a department to allow our students to be confident, critical, well read, creative and enthusiastic learners of Design and Technology.  We strive to inspire them to be the very best they can.

Design and Technology Curriculum Vision

Key Stage 3 

As students progress through Key Stage 3 they will be given the opportunity to focus on specific aspects of Design Technology under the subject umbrellas of Product Design, Food Technology, Textiles and Graphics. Students will learn to design and make products that solve genuine relevant problems, whilst considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. To do this effectively, they will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on additional cross curricular disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, literacy, computing and art.

Key Stage 4 

AQA GCSE Design and Technology 

The specification comprised of two components; the Written Paper and the Non-examined assessment, both components are worth 50%. The written paper is worth 100 marks and will take 2 hours to complete, students will answer multiple choice questions and extended response answers. The Non-exam assessment will contribute towards 50% of the student’s overall mark. The NEA project in its entirety will take between 30-35 hours to complete and consist of a working prototype and a portfolio. Students will be expected to cover the following topics for both units:

·       Core technical principles - both Product Design and Textiles students will be expected to cover the same principles

·       Specialist technical principles - students will specialise in their chosen areas of Textiles or Timber (product design)

·       Designing and making principles - both Product Design and Textiles students will be expected to cover the same principles

Students will cover these topics through theory lessons and projects in Year 10 before starting their NEA project in Year 11, the projects for the NEA are set in June of each year. It is vital students adhere to deadlines due to the tight timelines in Year 11.

 

GCSE Food preparation and Nutrition

This GCSE in Food Preparation and Nutrition will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It will encourage you to cook and will enable you to make informed decisions about food and nutrition and will allow you to acquire knowledge and understanding required in order to be able to feed yourselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life. 

What will you learn about? 

This qualification in food preparation and nutrition will enable you to make connections between theory and practice so that you are able to apply your understanding of food science and nutrition to practical cooking. The content relates to the study of both food and drinks.

What skills will you develop? 

By studying food preparation and nutrition you will be able to: demonstrate effective and safe cooking skills by planning, preparing and cooking a variety of food commodities whilst using different cooking techniques and equipment develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties and chemical characteristics of food as well as a sound knowledge of the nutritional content of food and drinks understand the relationship between diet, nutrition and health, including the physiological and psychological effects of poor diet and health understand the economic, environmental, ethical and socio-cultural influences on food availability, production processes, diet and health choices demonstrate knowledge and understanding of functional and nutritional properties, sensory qualities and microbiological food safety considerations when preparing, processing, storing, cooking and serving food understand and explore a range of ingredients and processes from different culinary traditions (traditional British and international) to inspire new ideas or modify existing recipes.

How are you assessed?

Component 1:

1 hour 45 minutes 50% of qualification 100 marks Two sections both containing compulsory questions Section A: questions based on stimulus materials Section B: a range of question types to assess all content related to food preparation and nutrition 

Component 2:

Assessment 1: The Food Investigation Assessment 8 hours task 15% of the total marks available Will involve practical experimental work and written work based on a specific food commodity e.g. bread, pastry. 

Assessment 2: The Food Preparation Assessment 12 hours task 35% of the total marks available Will involve research to respond to a given brief plus planning, preparation, cooking (1 x 3 hour session) and presentation of three dishes plus accompaniments (if appropriate) to form a menu.

Post 16 Progression 

The qualification will build on subject content which is typically taught at Key Stage 3 and provides a suitable foundation for the study of Food and Nutrition at Level 3 for example Level 3 Certificate in Food Science and Nutrition. This qualification will also provide a coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study for you if you do not progress to further study in this subject. In addition, the qualification will introduce you to a new way of thinking about food which could help you make informed decisions about a wide range of career pathways including Diplomas in Hospitality and Catering; Animal nutritionist; Nutritional therapist; Dietician. 

Exam Specification : WJEC GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition 

 Assessment 

 Key Stage 3

Students work will be assessed holistically at the end of each rotation in addition to the schools timetabled reports. Projects will be marked in accordance with the Academy’s marking policy.

 Key Stage 4

Students will complete projects before starting their controlled assessment. Project work will be marked using the specifications criteria and follow the Academies marking policy. Students controlled assessment will be subject to JCQ guideline so will be not marked, however, whole class feedback will be given. Students in Y10 and Y11 will be expected to sit at least one mock exam.

Homework

Homework will be set and assessed as detailed within the Academies homework policy. 

Books, Equipment, Materials and Resources Recommended/Needed 

 Key Stage 3

The Academy will provide the equipment and materials needed for students to complete their work in lesson. If students wish to take their finished project work they will be asked for small contribution towards materials costs, work that is not taken home will be recycled or used as an example.

Students will be expected to purchase their own ingredients for Food technology

 Key Stage 4

The Academy will provide the equipment and materials needed for students to complete their projects in lesson.  Students will also be given basic materials to complete their controlled assessment

Students will be expected to purchase their own ingredients for Food technology

Students will be provided with materials for Design technology, however, they may need to purchase additional materials based on their designs.

All students will be expected to purchase a folder for their projects.

Opportunities for Study beyond Key Stage 4 

All courses can be studied at College, 6th Form or through apprenticeships 

Career Opportunities Supported by This Subject 

Design Technology is such a diverse and varied subject; it is a good idea to see the course as a ‘gateway’ course as It allows for so many possibilities for career opportunities such as: Designers, Product Designer, Graphic Designer, Architect, Engineer, Drafts Man, CAD Designer, Fashion Designer, Textiles Designer, Seamstress, Chief, Food Scientist, Food Developer, Teacher, Product Developer. 

Click here to visit the Design & Technology Association website 

The Design Technology, Art & Computer Science Curriculum Lead is Mrs Gaynor Evans.