Design and Technology
The Department
At GSHS Design and Technology is a creative and fun subject with a range of learning activities which cater to the needs of all learners. We have a wealth and breadth of experience across teachers and are supported by a well qualified technician within the Design Department.
Thinking skills and problem solving are central to all of the projects undertaken at Key Stage 3 and 4 and independent research and analysis are encouraged throughout. There is the opportunity for students in Design and Technology to develop interpersonal skills through teamwork activities and new topics are underpinned by the principles of creativity and enterprise. Students are encouraged to take part in open discussion where the wider context of the social moral, ethical and environmental impact of design and new technologies are considered.
In Design students develop visual and written communication skills using both paper and ICT based forms for assessment. In Technology students use a range of tools equipment and processes to work on a variety of materials and components relevant to the modern curriculum and working environment.
The Department is well equipped with state of the art and traditional manufacturing and fabrication workshops and design rooms. Within the workshops we have a laser cutter, a CNC Router (Computer Numerically Controlled), a CNC engraver, a CNC Lathe, high temperature and low temperature casting systems and a thermoforming centre for vacuum forming, injection moulding, extrusion and free dome blowing as well as many other traditional woodwork and metalworking tools and machines.
The department also has Lego Mindstorms™ robotic systems and control Kits and we are developing PIC programming projects for use with ICT Systems and Control Software.
Key Stage 3
Year 7
Coat Hook (Design & Make)
Maze Game (Plan & Make)
Key Fob Light (Enterprise, Graphic Product)
Year 8
Picture Frame (Design, Make)
Eco Project (Ecological, Social Enterprise)
Mobile Phone Analysis (Enterprise, New Technology)
Year 9
Hand Steady Game (Design, Make)
Jewellery Project (Enterprise, Recycling)
Making the Band (Graphic Products, ICT)
Key Stage 4
At the moment the Department offers two GCSE courses through EDEXCEL
Resistant Materials and Graphic Products
Resistant Materials
In Resistant Materials students learn the design process in greater detail and develop practical planning and manufacture skills with each project.
They begin completing coursework for assessment after the Easter holidays and develop skills and techniques in designing and making all the way through the course. Students develop design ideas based on a realistic need or problem and produce an A3 folder of approximately 20 pages of detailed design, analysis and evaluation of the development of their solution
The coursework comprises of one Design and Make project which makes up 60% of the total assessed mark. Students can often walk into the exam confident that they have already got a grade and if they get the coursework right, the exam follows the same format with questions about designing making, materials, components, processes, using ICT in design and manufacture and health and safety.
Graphic Products
students begin completing coursework for assessment after the Easter holidays in year ten and develop skills and techniques in designing and making all the way through the course. Students develop design ideas based on a realistic need or problem and produce an A3 folder of approximately 20 pages of detailed design, analysis and evaluation of the development of their solution which will culminate in a 3D outcome.
The coursework comprises of one Design and Make project which makes up 60% of the total assessed mark. As a result, students can often walk into the exam confident that they have already got a grade. The exam follows the same format with questions about designing making, materials, components, processes, using ICT in design and manufacture and market trends.
Key Stage 5
We will be offering GCE Product Design Resistant Materials AS/A2 in 2007-2008 and the course will follow the AQA Syllabus and teaching will be shared with Longbenton CLC.
Students will follow a similar format to KS4 Course but with more demanding projects both in autonomous research and development for a realistic or real design problem for a client or user.
Department Staff
Mr M.Selman - Curriculum Leader
Mr A.Beecroft - Teacher of Design and Technology
Mr D.Sword - Technician
