Design Technology KS4
At Meadowhead we are passionate about Design Technology within the curriculum as we feel it plays a vital role in the world we currently live in. In a consumer driven world it allows us to inform pupils on a wide range of issues including the importance of sustainable and ethical design, with the advances in technology at present and the investment we have had locally in areas related to Technology and Engineering it is essential that we prepare our students for the future.
Having strong cross curricular links with many other subject areas including Maths, Science and Humanities we aim to provide opportunities for our students to become competent in all aspects of Design and Technology, from designing their own products taking into account issues related to sustainable and ethical design to developing practical skills in our well-equipped workshops.
We feel it is our duty to equip all students at Meadowhead with the knowledge and skills to be informed consumers or progress to follow a career in Design, Engineering or Construction industries.
Only when design fails does it draw attention to itself, when it succeeds it’s invisible.
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Design is knowing which ones to keep.
Key stage 3 (7-9) - Students will follow a carousel during Key Stage 3 and will spend 7/8 weeks in each of the subject areas (Food/Textiles/DT/Ceramics/Art) to gain knowledge and skills in all areas of Design and Technology.
Key Stage 4 (10-11)
Year 10
| Year 10 - Construction in the built environment | Year 10 - GCSE Design & Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 |
This term will be focused on developing routines, working safely following health and safety guidelines and developing Practical skills. Health and Safety relating to working with electricity, understanding wire colours. Understanding how a ring circuit works and how to safely wire a double socket on a ring circuit. Unit 1 & 3 based theory work to run alongside making activities. KO: HSE, Fire Safety |
This term will be focused on developing routines, working safely following health and safety guidelines and developing a subject knowledge base related to core materials along with focused practical tasks. Practical skills relating to core materials. Knowledge Organisers: Environmental Issues |
| Assessment |
Assessment week details and trial exams (as appropriate) Two written assessments and one practical assessment per half term |
Students will sit a full GCSE paper during trial exam week along with practice questions throughout the term |
| Term 2 |
This term will be focused on understanding design briefs, setting personalised success criteria and evaluating work. Practical skills relating to carpentry skills, manufacturing timber frames. Unit 1 & 3 based theory work to run alongside making activities. |
This term will be focused on developing specialist material knowledge (Timbers) along with subject core knowledge for the examination element of the course. Practical skills relating to carpentry skills, manufacturing timber frames. Focused practical tasks will run alongside theory lessons. |
| Assessment | Assessment week details and trial exams (as appropriate). Two written assessments and one practical assessment per half term | Students will sit a full GCSE paper during trial exam week along with practice questions throughout the term. |
| Term 3 |
This term will be focused on Unit 1 examination, past paper questions, hazards, H&S Legislation roles and responsibilities. Manual handling, Safety signs. Fire extinguishers, Hazards, risk assessment and control measures. Unit 1 & 3 based theory work to run alongside making activities. |
This term students will undertake a mock practical assessment and will be given the context for the NEA as it is released from the exam board. |
| Assessment | All students will be entered for Unit 1 Safety and Security in Construction examination. | Students will sit a full GCSE paper during trial exam week along with practice questions throughout the term. Assessment and feedback of the mock NEA. |
Year 11
| Year 11 - Construction in the built environment | Year 11 – GCSE Design & Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 |
This term will be focused on understanding design briefs, setting personalised success criteria and evaluating work. Health and Safety relating to working with electricity, understanding wire colours. Understanding how lighting circuits work and how to safely wire a two way lighting circuit. Unit 1 & 3 based theory work to run alongside making activities
|
This term students will be completing the NEA task along with continued exam theory and practice questions. |
| Assessment | Assessment week details and trial exams (as appropriate) Two written assessments and one practical assessment per half term | Continuous assessment of NEA. Students will sit a full GCSE paper during trial exam week along with two written assessments related to the examination per half term |
| Term 2 |
This term will be focused on understanding design briefs, setting personalised success criteria and evaluating work.
Working safely following health and safety guidelines and developing Practical skills relating to Painting and decorating skills, Fitting dado rails, painting and wallpapering.
Unit 1 & 3 based theory work to run alongside making activities.
|
This term students will be completing the NEA task along with continued exam theory and practice questions. |
| Assessment | Assessment week details and trial exams (as appropriate) Two written assessments and one practical assessment per half term | Continuous assessment of NEA. Students will sit a full GCSE paper during trial exam week along with two written assessments related to the examination per half term |
| Term 3 |
This term will be focused on Unit 1 and Unit 3 examination, past paper questions, hazards, H&S Legislation roles and responsibilities. Manual handling, Safety signs. Fire extinguishers, Hazards, risk assessment and control measures. Employees and employers roles and responsibilities. Unit 1 & 3 based theory work to run alongside making activities. |
This term will be focused on continuing to develop a subject knowledge base related to exam theory and practising exam technique. |
| Assessment | All students will be entered for Unit 1 Safety and security in Construction and Unit 3 Planning construction projects | Final examination. |
Key Stage 5
| Year 12 | Year 13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 |
This term will be focused on developing routines, working safely following health and safety guidelines and developing a subject knowledge base related to materials theory along with focused practical tasks. This term students will undertake mock NEA 1 (Lighting inspired by Architecture) |
This term students will be completing the NEA task along with continued exam theory and practice questions. |
| Assessment | Students will sit a full exam paper during trial exam week along with practice questions throughout the term | Students will sit a full exam paper during trial exam week. Continuous assessment of NEA along with two written assessments related to the examination per half term |
| Term 2 |
This term will be focused on continuing to develop a subject knowledge base related to exam theory along with focused practical tasks. This term students will undertake mock NEA 2 (Flat pack product) |
This term students will be completing the NEA task along with continued exam theory and practice questions. |
| Assessment | Students will sit a full exam paper during trial exam week along with practice questions throughout the term. | Students will sit a full exam paper during trial exam week. Continuous assessment of NEA along with two written assessments related to the examination per half term |
| Term 3 |
This term will be focused on continuing to develop a subject knowledge base related to exam theory along with focused practical tasks. Student will start thinking about the NEA element of the course and starting to research and submit possible proposals. |
This term will be focused on continuing to develop a subject knowledge base related to exam theory and practising exam technique. |
| Assessment | Students will sit a full exam paper during trial exam week along with practice questions throughout the term. Assessment of NEA proposal and research task. | Final examination. |
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