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Highlands School Highlands School

Design and Technology

Curriculum narrative

For more information on the curriculum narrative, please click here.

Exam board: GCSE: Edexcel Level1/Level 2 GCSE (-1) Design and Technology (1DT0).

A Level: AQA Design and Technology - product design.

Key Stage 3 - Design and Technology

 

Term rotations (terms 1-3)

Year 7

Resistant materials (RM):

Our planet

Textiles:

Home accessories

Food:

Skill me up!

Year 8

Resistant materials (RM):

Memphis gift

Textiles:

Bag for life

Food:

Healthy eating

Year 9 and first year GCSE

GCSE Design and technology: timbers or textiles

 

See tables below.

 

Key Stage 4 - Textiles

 

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 2

First year

Decorative Techniques (surface finishes)

1. Industry and enterprise. Industry

2. Sustainability and the environment

3. People,culture and society

4. Production techniques and system

Construction and decorative techniques

5. Critical evaluation of technologies

6. Contemporary and future Scenarios

7. Ethical and environmental perspectives

8.Energy generation.

9. Powering systems

10. Modern materials and smart materials

Second year

Non-examined assessment (NEA)

Finish Research

Specifications

Design ideas

Non-examined assessment (NEA)

Review of ideas

Development/modelling

Toiles/decorative techniques

Mock exam (PP Exam)

Key Stage 4 - Textiles

 

Spring Term 1

Spring Term 2

First year 

Fabric construction

Practical – Skirt

Mid-year exam (50 minutes)

11. Composite materials

12. Technical textiles

13. Mechanical devices

14. Electronic systems

Mid-year exam

Continue with skirt

Design ideas and developments for clock (mixed media project using decorative techniques) (pre-NEA project)

15. Programmable components

16. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals

17. Papers and boards

18. Polymers

19. Textiles

Second year

Non-examined assessment (NEA)

Decorative techniques

Making

Non-examined assessment

Making

Manufacturing diary

Testing and evaluation

Revision

Exam practice

Key Stage 4 - Textiles

 

Summer Term 1

Summer Term 2

First year

E-textiles

Smart Materials

Lined gusseted bag (CAM laser pocket)

Photoshop

19. Textiles

20. Natural and manufactured timbers

21. Social and economic changes

22. The work of others

23. Avoiding design fixation

24. Developing design ideas.

Long answer practice

25. Sources, origins and sustainability

Start GCSE Coursework

End of year exam

Catch up with any outstanding decorative or construction techniques / components

Investigation

Second year

Revision

26. Physical and working properties

27. Selection of materials

28. Stock forms, planning and production methods

29. Material processing

30. Surface treatments and finishing

Exam practice

Revision

GCSE Exam

 

Key Stage 4 - Timbers

 

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 2

First year 

1. Industry and enterprise. Industry

2. Sustainability and the environment

3. People, culture and society

4. Production techniques and system

5. Critical evaluation of technologies

6. Contemporary and future Scenarios

Practical focus:

  • Key fob - Production methods, material processing, treatments and finishes.

  • CAD/CAM - 2D design, Onshape, laser cutting and 3D printing.

  • Forming, processing, joining and finishing polymers and timbers

7. Ethical and environmental perspectives

8. Energy generation.

9. Powering systems

10. Modern materials and smart materials

11. Composite materials

12. Technical textiles.

Practical focus:

  • Key fob - Production methods, material processing, treatments and finishes.

  • CAD/CAM - 2D design, Onshape, laser cutting and 3D printing.

  • Forming, processing, joining and finishing polymers and timbers

Second year

24. Developing design ideas – long answer practice

25. Sources,origins and sustainability

NEA

Mock exam

 

Key Stage 4 - Timbers

 

Spring Term 1

Spring Term 2

First year

Specification content:

13. Mechanical devices

14. Electronic systems

15. Programmable components

Mid- year exam (50 minutes) 

Practical focus:

  • Mechanisms

  • Casting

  • LED lamp

  • Wood turning

16. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals

17. Papers and boards

18. Polymers

Practical focus:

  • Mechanisms

  • Casting

  • LED lamp

  • Wood turning

Second year 

26. Physical and working properties

NEA

27. Selection of materials and stock forms.

NEA

 

Key Stage 4 - Timbers

 

Summer Term 1

Summer Term 2

First year 

19. Textiles

20. Natural and manufactured timbers

21. Social and economic changes

22. The work of others

Practical focus:

  • Mini design and make desk tidy project 

  • Wood turning

23. Avoiding design fixation

Practical focus:

  • Mini design and make desk tidy project 

Start NEA 

End of year exam

Second year

28. Planning and production methods

29. Material processing and joining.

30. Material treatments and finishes

Revision of core and timbers

Revision of core and timbers

Final exam

 

Key Stage 5 - Product design

 

Autumn Term 1

Autumn Term 2

Year 12

Introduction project - card modelling

Wood joints FPTs 

Timber theory

ICT drawing and communication skills

Exam practice

Children’s stool project

Perfume bottle design and prototyping 

Paper and boards and polymer theory

Theory exam questions and practice

Year 13

Criteria 1: Context and objectives

Criteria 2: Plan of action and clarification of problem

Theory exam questions and practice

Criteria 3: Development of design proposal

Theory exam questions and practice

Key Stage 5

 

Spring Term 1

Spring Term 2

Year 12

Children's stool project

Perfume bottle – advertising and packaging 

Polymer theory

Theory exam questions and practice

Children's stool project

Onshape tutorials – CAD

Design era – design inspiration 

Tear down - life cycle analysis of a product 

Metal theory

Year 13

Criteria 4: Manufacture and modelling

Mock Exam

Theory exam questions and practice

Criteria 4: Manufacturing and modelling

Theory exam questions and practice

Key Stage 5

 

Summer Term 1

Summer Term 2

Year 12

Allimals project – manufacturing systems and mass production

Allimals packaging and advertising

Theory exam questions and practice

Introduction to Non-examined assessment (NEA)

Theory exam questions and practice

Year 13

Criteria 5: Conclusions, evaluations and recommendations

Revision: theory, exam practice and questions

Revision: theory exam practice and questions

Homework 

Subject:  

KS3 Design and technology

Homework tasks:

Homework tasks are varied in design and technology.  Some tasks are started in lesson, to be finished for homework such as:

  • Drawing techniques.

  • Design sketches.

Other tasks set include:

  • Researching materials, tools and equipment linked to the project theme and design and make task.

  • Design ideas.

  • Development of an idea.

  • Exit quizzes.

Resources:

  • All homework is set via Google Classroom, with an attached slide presentation for students to refer to for instructions and examples.

  • Worksheets and handouts.

  • Homework is to be completed in booklets unless otherwise stated.

Frequency:

Weekly.

Support:

  • Lesson slides on Google Classroom.

  • Writing frames, sentence starters.

Additional information:

“Step by step” worksheets are supplied for those students who need extra support.

 

Subject:

KS4 GCSE Design and technology (textiles and timbers exam specialism).

Homework task:

  • In the first year following each single lesson of core theory students must complete the exam-style questions and research tasks.

  • Some additional homeworks will consist of drawing techniques, design ideas and Seneca assignments.

  • In year two, students will be set assignments to complete which count towards 50% of their GCSE, NEA (non examined assessment/coursework).  This must be completed on the assigned set of slides.

  • Additional homework will be to complete worksheets and Seneca assignments in their chosen material specialism; textiles or timbers.

Resources:

Lessons are based on slide presentations, which are shared on Google Classroom after each lesson or on a weekly basis. These presentations include instructions, examples, and videos or modelling.

Frequency:

Once or twice a week, depending on lesson and task set.

Support:

We offer after school intervention sessions on Tuesday and Thursdays (and Fridays as well in Textiles).

Additional information:

Students are given individual feedback on homework and general whole class feedback on NEA.

 

Subject:

A level Product design

Homework task:

Year 12: Homework can include any of the following: 

  • Product analysis.

  • Additional research.

  • Theory notes.

  • Exam questions.

  • Project sheets.

Year 13: Homework can include any of the following: 

  • NEA (non-examined assessment/coursework) slides

  • Additional research.

  • Theory notes.

  • Exam questions.

Resources:

Lesson slides, handouts, exemplar/modelled material on Google Classroom, class notes, textbook and sketchbook.

Frequency:

Year 12: As students have two teachers that run independent projects, students will get a piece of homework (or two smaller pieces) from each teacher, each week, including a product analysis in their sketchbook.

Year 13: All students will be working on their own NEA so will be expected to show progression from one lesson to the next.

Support:

Students have been told to come and see or email teachers if they have any questions or concerns regarding independent work/tasks set. In free periods, students are encouraged to use workshop space ( supervision of a member of staff) to continue or catch up with any practical tasks.

Additional information:

All theory lessons are pre-populated worksheets, so note-taking is more focused and refined. 

 

 

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