What you will learn in KS3

D&T is taught for two periods each week. We deliver one period each of Resistant Materials and Compliant Materials. We do not operate a carousel of D&T studies as students stay with their two teachers for a year in the belief that it is important that teachers and students need to know each other. Resistant Materials delivers the bulk of lessons as this reflects the balance of the national curriculum. The Compliant Materials offer is structured as a complete one year experience in which students can achieve at their highest level.

All students follow a programme of Resistant Materials for 1 lesson each week in Years 7, 8 and 9. In addition, all students study Systems and Control for lesson each week in one year of 7, 8 or 9. Depending on their tutor group, students are placed in Technology groups of a plannedsize of 20.

The Key Stage 3 Curriculum
The Key Stage is organised as recommended in the KS 3 National Strategy. There are six strands of teaching and learning that make up the Design and Technology Attainment Target. Students undertake a project each term. Each project inevitably covers a wide range of strands but for the purpose of clarity and as a focus for assessment, each is designed to build on a focussed range of learning strands.

In Year 7, although reference is made to markets and clients, the focus is on how individual and family needs might be met. In Year 8 this focus develops with markets and Year 9 the context is around the needs of clients.

At each stage skills and knowledge delivered in one unit are reinforced in subsequent units.

What you will learn in KS4

Students may opt to study Resistant Materials and/or Electronic Products to GCSE. For September 2010, it is intended to additionally offer BTEC First extended Certificate in Construction Studies.

For G.C.S.E.
In Year 10, students undertake a number of units of work designed to broaden their understanding of design tasks and deepen their technical knowledge and skills. Additionally related theory work is undertaken. An increased emphasis is being given to written work as we find that students achieve to a very high level in practical and folder work they tend to achieve lower grades in the written exam.

In the summer term of Year 10 we begin coursework which represents 60% of GCSE marks. Coursework consists of a design folder of around 25 A3 sheets covering the design context, research and specification, design development, design finalisation, planning and evaluating together with a well made product. This continues through the Autumn term of Yr 11 until November when we focus on revision for the ‘mock’ exam.
The Spring term is devoted to making until the coursework deadline of March 15 after which revision and exam practise begin.

For Construction Studies
This occupies 2 option units and is studied for six periods each week. 12 units are undertaken. Two units are compulsory and the 9 optional units will cover such areas as carpentry, joinery and painting and decorating. This qualification is worth four GCSEs at grades A-C and is assessed solely on work in the course units as there is no final exam.

Examination Results 2009
GCSE Results
GCSEs were taken by 45 candidates in Resistant Materials and 12 candidates in Systems and Control (Electronics). A full report of the results is in the booklet “GCSE Examination Results and Analysis 2009”, published by the School.