Curriculum intent
Greenacre Design and Technology
Curriculum intent
The D&T curriculum is designed to be knowledge-rich, aspirational and sustainable as it encourages knowledge in the key D&T skills the students learn, this knowledge is designed in a spiral curriculum where the students revisit specific and sequenced knowledge to build on this knowledge each year in order to challenge individuals to sustain and maintain knowledge over time. The KS3 curriculum is designed for students to be able to cover a wide range of material areas and impart theoretical, designing and making skills, interleaving this in each project to build knowledge year upon year. The Design and Technology curriculum prioritises students’ understanding the fundamental knowledge and skills relevant to being an Engineer, Designer, Construction worker, or hospitality staff. Displaying our school values is a crucial part of our curriculum, the D&T staff prioritise these soft skills for students to be able to thrive in the work environment one day and leave Greenacre with a strong level of confidence in their practical and theory knowledge to enter the working world. Design and Technology at Greenacre allows students to be inspired by the world around them to learn and do more. It gives them opportunities that are both challenging and support personal development for lifelong learning.
Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding across the specialist areas and draw on cross-curricular links with other subjects such as Mathematics, Science, ICT and Art to further enhance their studies. Through the evaluation of products, their own work and the work of prominent practitioners within the chosen specialism, they will develop a critical understanding of the impact of Design and Technology on society and the wider world.
Design and Technology is a way of doing things logically, it is a way of thinking creatively and applying what students learn for their future pathways to their careers and professions using our school values demonstrated in all lessons. We encourage students to take risks in their design approaches and aim to develop resourceful, innovative and enterprising learners who can go on to be the next generation of creative thinkers, designers and practitioners. D&T allows curiosity, inspiration, imagination and motivation, leading to students being aspirational for further study and careers in a range of sectors and is a rigorous, challenging subject that builds a bridge between the academic learning and application.
Key stage 3
In Design and Technology, we try to cover a broad range of skills in order to best prepare our students for the 4 subject specific GCSE’s we offer, should they wish to pursue it further in year 10. We aim to build a foundation of skills in designing and making in designing, construction skills, engineering skills and Food technology to enable progression through the years.
Year 7 students have the opportunity to use a range of hand tools, equipment and machinery to make projects using wood and plastic. Students follow the design process where they generate ideas, develop these to a final design, make their product and evaluate their work.
Students will develop their practical skills and confidence in the workshop by working safely independently and in groups. Technical vocabulary is introduced from the beginning of year 7 and developed throughout year 8. Topics covered are different properties of wood and plastic, joining techniques, finishes, design periods and health and safety. The students will make a complete a range of projects such as Memphis clock, Enamelled Copper Project, CAM Toy in year 7. In year 8 students will complete the Treat scoop project, Speaker project and Phone holder. In year 9 students will complete a Lamp project, Architecture project and Spanner project.
Furthermore, from year 7 to year 9 all students also complete a rotation on food technology to learn cooking skills.
Helpful website to support KS3 learning:
www.technologystudent.com
Key stage 4
Upon deciding their option choices, students may wish to pursue GCSE Construction, GCSE Design in the Built Environment, GCSE Engineering and GCSE Hospitality and Catering to continue developing key skills within the subject area.
EDUQAS GCSE Construction
- Unit 1: Introduction to the Built Environment- 40% – 1 hour 30 minutes – 80 marks
- Unit 3: Constructing the Built Environment – 60% – Controlled assessment: 30 hours – 120 marks
Within this course, Students will learn about the construction industry from the building perspective. It will provide a broad introduction to the different trades involved and will allow students to develop their practical skills in specialisms such as Carpentry and Joinery.
Unit 1 introduces learners to the built environment and provides them with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in identifying, explaining and evaluating different ideas and concepts of the built environment. Learners will explore a range of profession and trade roles, and some of the different structures and buildings of the built environment.
Unit 3 offers learners the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of three Construction trade areas of the built environment, including planning, undertaking and evaluating Construction tasks.
Helpful book:
Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Construction and the Built Environment – Eduqas
ISBN: 978-1860857546
WJEC/ EDUQAS GCSE Design in the Built Environment (Architecture)
- Unit 1: Introduction to the Built Environment- 40% – 1 hour 30 minutes – 80 marks
- Unit 2: Designing the Built Environment – 60% – Controlled assessment: 30 hours – 120 marks
This course allows students to learn about the construction industry from a design and planning perspective. It provides a broad introduction to the design sector and to the types of career opportunities available. Students will cover how to complete construction drawings, how to choose safe and efficient materials, building to a budget, completing sustainable and aesthetically pleasing buildings and using CAD to create building designs
Unit 1 introduces learners to the built environment and provides them with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding in identifying, explaining and evaluating different ideas and concepts of the built environment. Learners will explore a range of profession and trade roles, and some of the different structures and buildings of the built environment.
Unit 2 offers learners the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the design of the built environment, including exploring what is needed to interpret and produce drafts, drawings, and models of design plans.
Helpful book:
Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Construction and the Built Environment – Eduqas
ISBN: 978-1860857546
WJEC/ EDUQAS GCSE Engineering
- Unit 1 – Manufacturing engineering products 40% – internal controlled assessment – 20 hours – 80 marks
- Unit 2 – Designing engineering products 20% – internal Controlled assessment – 10 hours – 40 marks
- Unit 3 – Solving engineering problems 40% – External Written examination – 1 hour 30 minutes – 80 marks
Students will be taught how to operate and manufacture complex components using the centre lathe, milling machines and bench fitting techniques. Students will also study the theory behind taking a product or component from concept to construction.
Unit 1 provides learners with the opportunity to interpret different types of engineering information in order to plan how to manufacture engineering products. Learners will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in using a range of engineering tools and equipment in order to manufacture and test an end product.
Unit 2 allows learners to explore how an engineered product is adapted and improved over time, and it offers learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to adapt an existing component, element or part of the engineering outcome that they manufactured for Unit 1.
Unit 3 introduces learners to a range of considerations that impact on engineering design and how modern engineering has had an impact on modern day life at home, work and in society in general.
Helpful book:
Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Engineering WJEC | Eduqas
ISBN: 978-1860857515
WJEC/ EDUQAS GCSE Hospitality and Catering
- Unit 1: The hospitality and catering industry – 40% – Written examination – 1 hour 20 minutes -80 marks
- Unit 2: Hospitality and catering in action – 60% – Controlled assessment – 120 marks
Students on this course will lean about one of the largest and most diverse industries in the UK. Students will develop a broad knowledge of the Hospitality industry and will apply their knowledge and skills to a range of practical contexts. As part of the course, Students will have the chance to plan, prepare cook and present a range of nutritional dishes.
Unit 1 enables learners to gain and develop comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the hospitality and catering industry including provision, health and safety, and food safety.
Unit 2 enables learners to develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the importance of nutrition and how to plan nutritious menus. They will learn the skills needed to prepare, cook and present dishes. They will also learn how to review their work effectively.
Helpful book:
Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering WJEC
ISBN : 978-1860857454
Key stage 5
As a continuation to from year 11, the department offers the Construction pathway, Engineering pathway and BTEC Extended diploma in Graphics for students to continue developing their skills.
BTEC Extended Diploma Art and Design – Graphics– This qualification is designed to give learners a technical understanding of graphic design. Learners gain knowledge and skills in areas such as typography, illustration and web design to produce vocational projects in graphic design. Learners choose an optional unit in another art and design discipline that complements the subject and gives breadth to their practice. This qualification is for post-16 learners intending to gain employment in graphic design, or further study in higher education.
The course comprises of 8 units taken over 2 years, there are 3 examination units and 5 controlled assessment units. This course is a double award which is equivalent to two A-levels.
Year 12 Exploring and Developing Art & Design:
- Skills & Development – Exploration of the fundamentals of art & design practice and development practical skills
- Creative Project – Response to a brief – from ideas generation to development of outcomes.
Year 13: Advancing Creative Practice
- Personal Progression – Develop an understanding of industry, employment roles and higher education routes and prepare progression materials relevant to personal aims.
- Creative Industry Response – Advance practical, critical and reflective skills to plan, prepare and develop a proposal for response to an industry relevant brief and carry it out from concept to resolution. To allow for a rich and immersive learning experience, learners can work freely across a range of technical skills areas, which reflect current industry practice.
The Diploma in Art & Design Practice specification has been developed alongside experts from the creative industries to focus on practical and progression-focused learning. This course provides learners with opportunities to enter a broader range of higher education, apprenticeships, or employment roles.
Work is generated through practical projects, briefs, workshops and engagement with industry, preparing them through the development of portfolios and materials for progression.
Engineering Pathway – consists of three qualifications in Engineering which takes all option choices.
NVQ in Performing Engineering Operations – This is a vocational course. All coursework must meet the national standards and the awarding body requirements. The course is comprised of practical projects with accompanying documentation. All units have underpinning knowledge assignments.
This course is made up of the following units:
- Working Safely in and Engineering Environment.
- Developing learners in working with other people on engineering activities.
- Using and Communicating Technical Information.
- Producing Mechanical Engineering Drawings using CAD Systems.
- Producing Components using Hand Fitting Techniques.
- Preparing and using Machinery for Manufacturing Operations.
BTEC Level 2 Engineering– The aims of this BTEC First are to:
- inspire and enthuse learners to consider a career in the Engineering sector
- give learners the opportunity to gain broad knowledge and understanding of, and develop skills in, the Engineering sector
- support progression to specialised Level 3 qualifications in Engineering, or to an Apprenticeship
- give learners the potential opportunity, in due course, to enter employment in a wide range of job roles.
City and Guilds Engineering – The City and Guilds qualification allows learners to build on the other two qualifications in Engineering. The following is included in each pathway: Principles of engineering – this allows learners to understand the basic principles of mathematics, science and materials that are important wherever learners work in engineering. Engineering workshop practice – this allows learners to recognise and use safe working practices, develop the knowledge and skills for producing components for assembly using appropriate tools, different materials and inspection techniques. Working in engineering businesses – this will provide learners with an understanding of how an engineering business is built up, functions and achieves commercial success. Learners will learn how to communicate effectively and gain knowledge of business improvement approaches. This course requires students to complete a synoptic exam, a multiple-choice theory exam and participate in employer involvement activities.
Construction pathway – consists of three qualifications in construction which takes all option choices.
City and Guilds Painting and Decorating– This Level 2 Technical Certificate in Painting and Decorating is aimed at learners if learners are looking to work in the construction industry specifically as a craftsperson in painting and decorating. A painter and decorator has the skills and knowledge to use a range of coverings such as paint and wallpaper to enhance and protect surfaces such as plaster, metal and wood, and plays an important part of any construction team. Learners will gain an understanding of the skills and knowledge that are important when they are working as a painter and decorator or progressing to further learning and training in this area.
This qualification covers all the main skills and knowledge a student would need to progress to further learning and training, or to enter the world of work as a painter and decorator. Learners will study the following mandatory content:
- Principles of construction
- Access equipment
- Preparation of surfaces for decoration
- Application of surface coatings
- Application of papers to walls and ceilings
- Producing decorative colour effects
The units are designed so that learners to learn the underlying principles and practical skills involved, as well as getting an overview of the principles of construction, building technology and terminology used. This course requires students to complete a synoptic exam, a multiple-choice theory exam and participate in employer involvement activities.
City and Guilds Site Carpentry– This Level 2 Technical Certificate in Site Carpentry is aimed at learners if learners are looking to work in the construction industry specifically as a site carpenter. A site carpenter has the skills and knowledge to cut, fasten, carve and design objects made out of wood or other materials, and plays an important part of any construction team. Learners will gain an understanding of the skills and knowledge that are important when working as a site carpenter or progressing to further learning and training in this area.
This qualification covers all the main skills and knowledge learners will need to progress to further learning and training, or to enter the world of work as a site carpenter.
Learners will study the following mandatory content: – Principles of construction – Structural carpentry
– Non-structural carpentry prior to plastering
– Non-structural carpentry following plastering
– Timber technology and the use of a circular saw.
The units are designed so that students to learn the underlying principles and practical skills involved, as well as getting an overview of the principles of construction, building technology and terminology used. This course requires students to complete a synoptic exam, a multiple-choice theory exam and participate in employer involvement activities.
BTEC Construction – This course consists of a range of units and 2 examinations.
The aims of this BTEC First suite in Construction and the Built Environment are to:
- inspire and enthuse learners to consider a career in the Construction and the Built Environment sector
- give learners the opportunity to gain broad knowledge and understanding of, and develop skills in, the Construction and the Built Environment sector
- support progression to specialised Level 3 qualifications in Construction and the Built Environment, or to an Apprenticeship
- give learners the potential opportunity, in due course, to enter employment in a wide range of job roles.