The aim of Design and Technology is to embrace the whole range of practical activities, encourage pupils to design and make their own products in different materials and to prepare pupils for life in a technological society.

Technology is a creative human activity and social process, which brings about changes in people’s circumstances and environment. It does this through the practical application of knowledge, understanding and skills, drawn from a variety of domains of human activity and enquiry. At the heart of technological work are the processes of designing and making. 

Studying Design and Technology will help to:

Identify needs and opportunities
Generate and develop designs
Plan resources
Make products (Clocks, Kites, Mechanical toys, Jewellery and lots more)
To evaluate their own work and work of others. 

Aim

Technology students become aware of the ways in which technology is changing the home, the work place and lifestyles, and are better placed to respond to the employment needs of business and industry. 

Structure

At Key Stage 4 Design and Technology is now optional. We currently offer OCR Graphic Products. The course is very successful achieving excellent results. At Key Stage 5 we offer Edexcel Graphic Design, which is also very successful. 

Competitions

In year 9 the pupils enter the Institute of Packaging Competition. They have won various categories for the last five years. In 2004 one pupil won a voucher for the best portfolio under 16.

A first prize in the 14-16 age group as also won in the Design a Dog Coat Competition, 2006, run by the Society for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. 

Department

The department comprises of three Design Technology teachers and two technicians. 

Improvements to Department

The entire department has been completely refurbished and includes three specialist rooms, comprising a very impressive purpose-built design studio with thirteen networked computers, a Food and Textiles room with four networked computers and a Resistant and Electronics room. 

Trips and Educational visits

Design and Technology offer a variety of trips and educational visits including Cadbury World and galleries. 

Careers and Higher Education

This is a wonderful and enjoyable course leading to a wide range of opportunities. An A level in this subject could lead on to Architecture, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Book illustration, Visual Communications, Product Design and a wide range of other graphic related courses.

For additional information relating to the topics taught in each year and useful websites, please click here