Design Technology & ICT

Name of Department: Design Technology and ICT

Head of Department: Miss P Birch

GCSE Design and Technology
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
GCSE Computer Science
Imedia

Our approach to the Design and Technology and ICT curriculum

Statement of Intent

The Design & Technology curriculum is designed to be a creative, and practical subject which actively prepares students for later life. We encourage students to be creative and innovative and to think about important global issues such as the climate crisis and economic issues.

Students are taught in a variety of ways broader topics such as the circular economy, the 4^th industrial revolution and how design decisions can impact society.

A range of teaching methods are used to instill the joy of life-long learning and build ‘toolkit’ of technical knowledge, practical and making skills to prepare pupils for life beyond St Augustine’s, in a rapidly changing and increasingly technological world.

Curriculum content

Key Stage 3

The Design and Technology curriculum has been designed by the department to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum and covers a wide of topics.

In Years 7, 8 and 9: Understanding contexts, users and purposes, Generating Ideas, developing and modelling, communicating ideas, Planning, Practical skills, Evaluating Existing products, Research of events products and individuals, Making products work, Where food comes from, Food preparation, cooking and nutrition

Lessons in Design and Technology are designed to be inclusive. we use Dyslexia friendly resources and promote subject specific reading for learning, for the future, and for pleasure.

Key Stage 4

In KS4 pupils can study:

AQA Design and Technology
AQA Food and Nutrition
AQA Art 3D Product design

AQA Design and Technology GCSE. Pupils study the three main disciplines of D&T Communicating designs, making and technical knowledge (Core technical principles and specialist technical principles elements) where we specialise in resistant materials. Both Non-Exam Assessment (NEA or Folder Work) and exams contribute towards pupils final GCSE in Design and Technology.

In AQA Food and Nutrition GCSE pupils study among other things costing a meal, nutritional values of foods, Carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, nutritional needs for different groups, diet, preparing and storing food safely. Both Non-Exam Assessment (NEA tasks an investigation on the chemical properties of ingredients and a plan, prepare cook and present task) and an exam contribute towards pupils final GCSE in Food and Nutrition.

In AQA Art 3D Product design GCSE. Pupils study, Past & Present Design & Designers, Design Communication, they practice Skills Workshops, and produce an Independent Design and Make Project. Grades are achieved through a sustained project in Year 11.

In OCR Computer Science GCSE, Pupils study Boolean logic, Data storage, and Computational thinking. They design, create, and refine algorithms. Learn about the architecture of the CPU, CPU Performance data types and Programming fundamentals, Networks and topologies, Wired and wireless networks, protocols and layers.

OCR Cambridge National in IT covers IT in the digital world, Manipulating data in spreadsheets, and the use of augmented reality.

Lessons in all subjects taught across KS4 are designed to be inclusive.