Year 7

Aims of Course

• To inspire students and enable them to work confidently within Design and Technology.
• To develop each student’s potential to create innovative designs using a wide range of materials and component.
• To effectively use the success criteria provided by the National Curriculum to enable students to progress.
  

Organisation
Students are taught in mixed ability groups and design tasks are differentiated according to the ability of individual students. They have a double lesson each week. Most work is presented on printed A4 sheets, with headings and other prompts for the students. This is collated by the students and presented as a folder for assessment at the end of a module. There are four modules during the year. Aprons are provided by the school for practical activities.

Homework/Independent Study is set each lesson and is due in at the same time the following week. Often this is in the form of a record of activities and plan for next lesson, but it may also be a researching or designing task. The use if ICT is encouraged.

Assessment
Work is marked weekly, spelling errors are indicated and advice given. At the end of each module the teacher makes an assessment of the child's National Curriculum level in the two Attainment Targets, 'Designing' and 'Making'. These are stored on computer and at the end of the year we advise parents/carers of the levels reached. Similar information is given at Parents’/Carers’ Evenings. Folders are given back to the students, displaying levels and with written comment, indicating how they can improve in the next module.

Attainment Targets in Technology start at Level 1 and rise to Level 8. Most students in Year 7 come into us at Level 3, though of course, can be at any level. By the end of Year 7, most students are on levels 3 or 4, by the end of Year 8, most range from 3 to 5 and by the end of Year 9, most are between levels 4 and 6. If your child is performing above these levels they are above average and exceptional students will reach level 8 by the end of Key Stage 3.

How Students are Encouraged

• Students are presented with stimulating and imaginative design tasks.
• They are rewarded for good work with merit marks and commendations and effort grades, on the scale A - E. The school + = - system is used to inform on progress towards targets.
• Their work is displayed whenever possible to inspire others and to encourage students to take pride in their work.
• Frequent marking, feedback and discussion about their projects is provided. If work or behaviour is not satisfactory, parents/carers are informed.
  

How Parents/Carers can help

• Value your child's work. Praise their efforts; enjoy their food technology results; use or display in the home textile/resistant materials products.
• Ask to see homework/independent study at regular intervals. If it is frequently not available please do not hesitate to contact his/her DT teacher. If you do receive a letter about unsatisfactory work or behaviour, please support the school and discuss this with your child as appropriate.
• Provide the equipment needed, e.g.: pen, pencil, coloured pencils, ruler, eraser, and A4 ring binder.
• If your child embarks on an ambitious design help to find research material/suggest ideas, discuss the design and maybe help find materials.
• Support the Technology Department by contributing towards the cost of materials and providing food ingredients when needed. Donations of unwanted materials are always gratefully received.
• Send students in sensible shoes, without jewellery, to meet Health and Safety requirement.
  

Extra Curricular Activities
Technology clubs at lunchtimes and after school. Various competitions for students to enter throughout the year.

Contact: Subject Leader – Miss C Symes

Course Content
Students are given assignments, in groups or independently, in which they design and make products focusing on different contexts and materials, including resistant materials, textiles technology, green technology and food. Differentiation is achieved by means of teacher-student negotiated tasks and by student outcomes.

Teaching takes place by means of focused practical tasks in which students develop and practice particular skills and knowledge and by means of activities in which they investigate, disassemble and evaluate familiar products and applications.

In Year 7 we concentrate on ‘Research and Analysis’, ‘Specification and Planning’ as well as ‘Design Development and Evaluation’ whilst working with a variety of different materials and components and touching on issues such as global, warming, healthy eating and the needs of others.

Attainment Targets in Technology start at Level 1 and rise to Level 8. Most students in Year 7 come into us at Level 3, though of course, can be at any level. By the end of Year 7, most students are on levels 3 or 4, by the end of Year 8, most range from 3 to 5 and by the end of Year 9, most are between levels 4 and 6. If your child is performing above these levels they are above average and exceptional students will reach level 8 by the end of Key Stage 3.

Year 8

Course Content
During the course of the year students are given assignments, in groups or individually, in which they design and make products focusing on different contexts and materials, including resistant materials, textiles technology, graphic products and food technology.

Teaching takes place by means of focused practical tasks in which students develop and practice particular skills and knowledge and by means of activities in which they investigate, disassemble and evaluate familiar products and applications.

Having learned about the design process in year 7 during the course of year 8 students will focus in on specific areas of the national curriculum including environmental issues, industrial practice, culture and design and target markets allowing them to form a more comprehensive understanding of the necessary considerations when designing. Students will be given the opportunity to develop previously learned practical skills whilst being introduced to new materials and techniques.

Year 9

Course Content
Students are given assignments, in groups or individually, in which they design and make products focusing on different contexts and materials, including resistant materials, compliant materials and food.

Teaching takes place by means of focused practical tasks in which students develop and practice particular skills and knowledge and by means of activities in which they investigate, disassemble and evaluate familiar products and applications.

In Year 9 the emphasis is in the direction of technology in everyday life and consideration of industrial and environmental constraints. Students will look at 'products and applications' and 'systems and control' whilst working on their 'designing and making' tasks. Health and safety at work is considered, and it is hoped that industrial visits can take place.