Technology
Technology
Department Aims
In design and technology pupils combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make a variety of products. We strive to teach students to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments. Our students learn to think creatively and intervene to improve the quality of life, solving problems as individuals and members of a team.
The aims and objectives of the Design & Technology department relate directly to those of the school and to the requirements of the National Curriculum. The D&T department in Burscough Priory aim to ensure all students gain skills and knowledge to design and make in all technological areas to include Resistant Materials, Food & catering, Graphic Products, Product Design, Electronics and Engineering. At Key Stage 4 the department offers the following GCSE’s – AQA Resistant Materials, WJEC Catering, AQA Graphic Products, AQA product design and AQA Engineering.
Our results over the last 6 years have consistently been above the national average. The department performed extremely well when the results for GCSE 2016 exams were released – 97% of students achieved A*-G, 69% achieved A*-C and 14% achieved A*-A! In addition, 100% of students passed their Resistant Materials A*-C and 91% passed their Graphic Products A*-C. This was achieved with some very dedicated staff within the department, but more importantly very hard working well disciplined students.
Course Content Overview KS3
At KS3 students rotate on a carousel basis. Students spend 12 weeks or 9 depending on their pathway with at least 2 lessons per week in each of the following areas.
At Key Stage 3 the department currently offers the following full GCSE courses:
Resistant Materials
- Year 7 – Bird house project. Students produce a design folder and make a bird house
- Year 8 – Storage container. Students produce a design folder and make a storage container
- Year 9 – Numerous Design and make to include a plane, car, train to a jewellery box and desktop tidy
Product Design / Graphics
- Year 7 – Chocolate bar. Students produce a design folder and make a new chocolate bar design.
- Year 8 – Clock project. Students produce a design folder and make a clock based on the design movement Memphis.
- Year 9 – Festival / CD Album / Acrylic Lamp. Students produce a design folder and promote the festival, make a CD case then make a themed Acrylic lamp
Electronics
- Year 7 – USB light. Students produce a design folder and USB light.
- Year 8 – speaker & housing. Students produce a design folder and make speaker and housing.
- Year 9 – Amplifier. Students produce a design folder and make an amplifier
Food & Catering
- Year 7 – Food & Nutrition. Students produce work sheets and prepare and produce a number of food dishes.
- Year 8 – Food & Nutrition. Students produce work sheets and prepare and produce a number of food dishes.
- Year 9 – Food & Nutrition. Students produce work sheets and prepare and produce a number of food dishes.
Course Content Overview KS4
At Key Stage 4 the department currently offers the following full GCSE courses:
- Product Design (AQA)
- Engineering (AQA)
- Graphic Products (AQA)
- Resistant Materials (AQA)
- Catering (WJEC)
Students may opt for more than 1 of these courses but due to the amount of coursework they are advised to take no more than two except in special circumstances and with negotiation with the subject teacher.
All GCSE courses in the department are allocated 2 hours per week and under normal circumstances students will remain with the same specialist teacher throughout the course
How we Stretch and Challenge our students in Design and Technology
All students are encouraged to challenge themselves in Design and Technology. This can be through their own creative thinking when producing a piece of individualised design work, or though their creative thinking when producing a practical outcome, and adding something unique. The students use exemplar sheets to support learning and to drive and challenge themselves. Students are given tasks each lesson to improve their independent learning skills.
How we support our students
Student support in Design and Technology is one of our biggest priorities and the strength of our student support system is without doubt one of the major reasons for the high level of student success.
Learning at all levels is designed to be fun, purposeful and relevant to individual needs. Pupils learn from each other as well as from the staff in the department and we place great emphasis on students recognising, respecting and valuing first themselves and then their peers.
Students are encouraged to be involved in decision making when looking at new projects. They are always encouraged to ask questions from both their peers and staff using the system of C3B4ME. Students in the department feel valued and listened to. Work is marked with WWW & EBI comments that promote progress.
In addition, students self and peer assess each other’s work. Students can also email staff to ask for help or clarify work.
We have the department open every lunch time and 4 nights per week to ensure all students have access to extra support.
How we deliver Literacy and Numeracy in Design and Technology
Literacy posters: As literacy becomes more of a focus across all areas of the curriculum, it is important to demonstrate how many skills we deliver across the design process. A literacy poster has been produced with the help of pupils and is displayed in classrooms to help with their work. There are many key words that we use to enable pupils a memorable way in which to develop analytical skills, annotate ideas, and discuss new and existing products and evaluate effectively.
Numeracy posters: As numeracy becomes more of a focus across all areas of the curriculum, it is important to demonstrate how many skills we deliver across the design process. A numeracy poster has also been produced with the help of pupils from the maths champions and is displayed in classrooms to help with their work. There are many ways which we demonstrate numeracy to include reading from working drawings, accuracy of measuring, conversion of size, and geometrical shapes and symmetry.
Exams
We prepare students from as early as year 7 to ensure they know the process of sitting exams and become confident in answering exam style questions.
- Year 7 – Sit a base line test on entry, followed by an end of unit test in each area.
- Year 8 – Sit an end of unit test before rotation.
- Year 9 – Sit an end of unit test before rotation.
- Year 10 – Sit a number of mock exams throughout the year to practice the exam process and to measure progress.
- Year 11 – Sit a number of mock exams throughout the year to practice the exam process and to measure progress. In addition they have homework based on exam questions.
All year 11s also sit their GCSE exams using two exam boards. AQA in all areas with the exception of food and catering when we use WJEC.
Staff List
Mrs S Tootle – Teacher of Design & Technology (Specialist in Food & Catering)
Extra-curricular activities
The workshops are open every lunchtime by request and invitation to all students. Students are welcome to practice their skills, or work on the computers to continue or complete design work. Students are encouraged to use google sketch up and 2D techsoft design software to practice designing and 3D modelling.
How parents can support their children in Design & Technology
- Encourage children to attend intervention or lunch time sessions.
- Encourage children to bring home their practical outcomes and discuss how they have used the design process to complete the outcome / product.
- Encourage your child to help with practical jobs around the home.
- Encourage children to try new ideas and experiment with different materials, our first idea isn’t always our best.
- Ask your child about their homework and how you can support them.
