Mrs M Florence-Wratten (Joint Head of Department)

Mrs K Parker (Joint Head of Department)

Mr G Carter

Miss N Lane

Mr M Redden (Technician)

  Design and Technology is an important area of study because it enables young people as consumers to consider the wider implications of design within the constraints of living in a modern industrial society.

  Design and Technology is taught in two workshops. In the Design workshop there is a computer suite including printers, scanners and assorted CAD/CAM equipment. We also have a range of plastics and foam shaping machinery including vacuum forming and injection moulding equipment. We also house wood machining equipment and a brazing hearth and furnace along with an enamelling kiln. The Food Technology workshop comprises of 6 cookers, 3 gas and 3 electric. There is a range of equipment to enable the prototyping and manufacturing of food products, including the use of digital technology. Both D.T rooms are equiped with interactive Smartboards, including video and DVD facilities.

  At Key Stage 3 all students experience various design and manufacturing activities in the areas of Graphics, Food and Textiles Technology. In Year 7 and 8 students are allocated two periods of 50 minutes. Year 9 students are taught in one single period a week. Projects undertaken during Key Stage 3 include: Jugglers - a textile-based activity featuring Computer Aided Design; Pop- Ups – a paper engineering project featuring structures, systems and control; Breakfast to Go – food based project that looks at Smart Foods and consumer lifestyles; Perfume Packaging – a graphic product activities featuring CAD/CAD Technology; The Customised T-Shirt Project – a textiles based activity exploring surface decoration; Food Around the World – a food project looking at multicultural lifestyle issues whilst working in the context of industrial practices; Party Party– a food based project looking at buffet style foods for a given context; VIP Party - a product based project about creating a party bag complete with suitable gifts manufactured from a range of materials, including plastics and metal.

   At Key Stage 4 students study either Food Technology or Product Design over three periods a week. These courses are run by AQA. The emphasis is on realising design ideas for an intended client. Students have the opportunity to further develop their design and manufacturing skills using a variety of materials and media.

  In the Sixth Form the Product Design course is administered by AQA. During the AS course the students produce a portfolio of work showcasing various design and manufacturing skills processes and design communication techniques.