Design & Technology

For more curricular information contact info@clwacademy.org.uk

Curriculum intent

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc

Our intention is to help students develop, through the study of Design & Technology, a range of skills which can be transferred into many real-world situations.

While learning in a practical manner, students will build up creativity, problem solving, planning, virtual modelling and evaluation skills to become independent and resourceful. In a safe learning environment, they will build the confidence to take risks and learn from mistakes and develop resilience while understanding developments in design and technology, its impact and effect of products on individuals, society and the environment.

Through engaging and challenging lessons students will learn to enjoy learning in subjects which foster and promote interests for later life and lead to employability and success in a whole range of careers.

The Design and Technology Department at Carlton le Willows Academy has an experienced, committed team who use their enthusiasm to provide students with a fun and stimulating experience across all areas of the DT curriculum, which includes Food, Graphics and Engineering.

KS3

During Key Stage 3 in Design and Technology pupils cover three subjects on a rotation. The order varies depending on the group.

In Hospitality pupils explore nutrition, where food comes from and how it is grown, food waste, planning dishes and a variety of theory linked to the Hospitality & Catering Industry. Pupils cook a variety of dishes looking at more advanced methods of cooking as they go through the years. In Graphics pupils develop their drawing skills by practicing a range of perspective drawing techniques and drawing enhancements. Whilst applying their skills to designing and developing products, they learn theory about fonts and colour.
In Engineering pupils learn about materials, safe use of tools and equipment, materials and the use of electronic components. This is realised with pupils making quality products themselves.

KS4

At Key Stage 4, we offer a variety of subject to suit all skills. Vocational Engineering Design, Hospitality and Catering and GCSE DT Graphics. These courses are taught as part coursework and part exam and are studied over two years.

Curriculum intent

Our Engineering course will give pupils the opportunity to;

Build up creativity, problem solving, planning, practical and evaluation skills to become independent and resourceful.
Enable students to feel safe and confident in their learning environment to take risks and learn from mistakes.
Foster a culture of ‘design critique’ to produce quality outcomes via peer and group work, respecting other students’ opinions.
Develop resilience when understanding the developments in design and technology, its impact and effect of products on individuals, society and the environment, and the responsibilities of designers, engineers and technologists.
Enjoy learning in a practical manner having experienced the best possible engaging and challenging lessons which foster and promote interests for later life.

Our Hospitality and Catering course will give pupils the opportunity to:

Develop their practical skills alongside relevant knowledge. Our curriculum will provide basic life skills that will hopefully foster a further interest in this area. Our Design and Technology curriculum will give pupils the opportunity to:
• study a variety of different cooking methods and learn the nutritional impact of each
• understand a variety of nutrients and their effects on the individual
• experiment with ingredients and techniques they are unfamiliar with
• create an array of dishes to demonstrate and develop their skills in both savoury and sweet recipes
• analyse the various styles of hospitality and catering styles and establishments
• evaluate their own and others’ practical skills
• learn how to develop menus that take into account customer needs
• develop an understanding of how environmental issues impact his sector
• develop an understanding of a varied range of job roles and responsibilities within the sector

The hospitality and catering sector includes all businesses that provide food, beverages, and/or accommodation services. This includes restaurants, hotels, pubs and bars. It also includes airlines, tourist attractions, hospitals and sports venues; businesses where hospitality and catering is not their primary service but is increasingly important to their success. According to the British Hospitality Association, hospitality and catering is Britain’s fourth largest industry and accounts for around 10% of the total workforce. Since 2010, over 25% of all new jobs have been within the hospitality and catering sector with the majority of new roles falling within the 18-24 age group, according to a report by People 1st.

KS5

At Key Stage 5, new Year 12 students will study the Edexcel Design and Technology A level. Students will be able to specialise in either Graphics or Resistant Materials, but will also cover a whole range of design-related topics as well.

The students get five lessons per week of study. Classes for Resistant Materials and Graphics are combined for most of the lessons as this creates a stimulating environment for both groups. They are also separated for some lessons, which allows us to cover the individual examination content of the two courses.

In essence, students are required to identify a problem and a design context, then develop a range of potential solutions and realise one.

Pedagogy	Enrichment	Other general principles
Our pedagogy is underpinned by:· a mastery approach to the teaching of Design Technology skills for understanding; a spiral curriculum basing future teaching on the building blocks taught previously; concepts that are broken down into small connected and structured steps enabling application to range of contexts; variation to develop deep and holistic understanding; procedural fluency and repetition of key facts to free up working memory; manipulatives and multiple representations used to build and scaffold learning; marking and feedback that informs planning and addresses misconceptions promptly; questioning planned intelligently; students who see error as a learning opportunity and are resilient in their learning; constant focus on fact retrieval; opportunities for pupils to reason and justify.	We will enrich our curriculum by: offering further opportunities for students to study a range of Design Technology subjects establishing cross-curricular links with other aspects of the curriculum such as Mathematics, Physical Education, Chemistry, Biology, Languages, History and Geography using external resources to enhance and support independent learning and revision; the experience of Design Technology implementation in everyday life; opportunities to promote STEM and further/higher education learning and careers;·giving pupils the opportunity to mentor/be mentors by their peers.	Our curriculum will enable students to: learn within a coherent and exciting framework which does not limit students ambitions; develop new skills through a variety of interesting contexts to foster enjoyment develop a rich, deep and secure subject knowledge; understand what they are doing well and how they need to improve; explore the breadth and depth of the national curriculum; build on their understanding of the importance of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance and respect; improve their spiritual, social, moral and cultural understanding to develop confidence in their skill set.