Subjects > Technology > KS3 (Year 7/8/9)
The aim of the Design and Technology Department is to develop pupils’ ability to solve problems, communicate ideas graphically and evaluate products through design work and to provide a working knowledge of tools, techniques, processes and safe working practices in a range of materials.
Year 7
In Year 7 pupils will follow courses in graphics, fabrics, food and wood. Much of the work is aimed at developing skills in using a range of basic tools and equipment, a foundation course for what will follow in Years 8 to 11.
Graphics
In the Graphics course, pupils will learn about formal drawing techniques – what they would call 2D and 3D drawing (orthographic and isometric) using drawing instruments to begin with then progressing on to working with computers and CAD software. This will be followed by a project in cardboard engineering, learning about the techniques used in “pop-up” books and completing a range of examples and challenges before designing their own.
Wood
The work with wood is intended to develop practical skills and instil an understanding of the need for accuracy in using tools and materials. Pupils will make a wooden box which is quite demanding in the application of new skills in order to achieve a high standard; they will learn about wood as a construction material and how it is worked.
Food
In food technology pupils will learn basic skills and use of the cooker. There is emphasis on food hygiene and safety, and the importance of accurate weighing of ingredients. Pupils will then design and make a packed lunch product.
Textiles
In textiles technology pupils follow the design process by analysing the task, collecting and presenting research and using natural form as their inspiration to generate a range of design ideas for a pencil case. Practical work involves pupils using hand embroidery, fabric pens/crayons and machine sewing to decorate and make their pencil case.
Year 8
In Year 8 pupils will follow courses in food, mechanisms and structures, metal and textiles. The work in these courses builds on that done in Year 7, but is more demanding and we would expect pupils to produce a higher standard of work.
In food technology pupils will build on skills learnt in Year 7 and investigate staple foods. Food hygiene and safety is explained throughout. Pupils will design and make a multi-cultural product using staple foods.
The work on structures, mechanisms and control is based largely on problem solving skills. Pupils will learn about these topics and their applications in everyday objects and will be required to solve a range of tasks using modelling techniques which will test their understanding and ability. The work is challenging but interesting and leads to work on systems and control using computer programmes to control simulated environments.
Pupils will also be asked to design and make a product in metal which uses the principle of balance; this is usually an ornament or small toy. The main components should be made from metal but other materials may also be used. They will learn about a range of metals and their uses and will develop skills and knowledge used for working this material.
In their work with textiles, pupils will design and make a culture cushion based on a culture of their choice. They will complete practical tasks on surface decoration, which include tie-dying, stencilling and block printing. These techniques will then be used to decorate their culture cushion. The course further develops skills in the design process, through carrying out research by analysing existing products, producing a specification, designing and developing their cushion and by evaluating the product and project.
Year 9
In Year 9 pupils will follow courses in food, graphics, product design and textiles. The work is more demanding than that done in Year 8 and we expect pupils to produce a much higher standard; this is particularly important in Year 9 as at the end of the year an overall assessment is made on what level they have achieved by the end of Key Stage 3 and their performance may well influence which courses are available to them in Year 10.
In textiles pupils continue to develop their design skills by evaluating existing products more thoroughly and identifying individual themes to inspire their products. They are set the task to design, plan and make a bag which is decorated with a logo to reflect their theme. They work as textile designers, draughting and adapting their patterns independently, using CAD/CAM to aid the designing and making of their logo and they also make further use of the sewing machine.
The product design course gives pupils an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to apply and develop the skills and knowledge learned in Years 7 and 8. They will be required to design and make a mechanical toy in a similar style to one that is commercially produced. This will extend their designing skills and their knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms work done in Year 8 and will develop their ability to use tools and materials in a practical situation.
In the graphics course pupils will be given the challenge of designing a kitchen and producing a scale model of their design and a computer generated presentation drawing in “2D and 3D” using CAD software. In addition they will complete a range of freehand drawing exercises aimed at developing their presentation skills in preparation for KS4 work in all technology subjects.
In Year 9 the food technology course is intended to develop and build on the practical skills learnt in the previous years, to reinforce the importance of hygiene and safety in the food preparation area and to learn about the function of ingredients. Practical and investigative tasks are designed to lead students to the Year 9 brief which is to design and make a range of sweet and savoury foods suitable for a party. These products are then trialled and improved through the test kitchen methodology used in the food industry.