“The best way to predict the future is to invent it”

Alan Kay

Curriculum

Y7

• Pupils are made aware of health and safety requirements in the workshop before they complete their final design drawing and begin manufacturing, using hand tools and machines.
• Pupils identify and a client to establish user’s needs. They learn how to write a design brief and specification improving confidence to become more independent in the workshop.
• Pupils undertake a design and make project based on plastics, timbers and textiles. They learn about plastic, timbers and textiles and their origins and properties.

Y8

• Pupils are continually made aware of health and safety requirements in the workshop before they begin manufacturing, using hand tools and machines.
• Pupils collect images as part of their research for a client and use these images to inspire creative designs. They learn new key-terms and meanings.
• Pupils complete a variety of creative and unique initial ideas and use colour to develop a final design for manufacture including CAD CAM.

Y9

• Pupils undertake a design and make project based on woods, metal and plastic developing from skills learnt in year 7 and 8.
• Pupils complete a variety of creative and unique initial ideas that fulfil a design brief and use colour to develop a final design for manufacture. They make prototypes and model to text and evaluate.
• Pupils look at writing a design brief and specification but extended the literacy skills to add reasons why and because. They collect images as part of their research and use these images to inspire creative designs.

Y10

• Pupils problem solve using a user centred approach. They look at local and global issues working as a team and improving independence
• An emphasis on a practical approach to designing, making and evaluating products that meet real-life needs using graphical presentation and modelling techniques
• Pupils use a wide range of presentation and modelling techniques to extend pupils’ practical skills. These techniques include freehand sketching, isometric drawing, 1 and 2 point perspective, orthographic drawing, form shading and textures. Considerable time is also spent on computer graphics, CAD and 3D model making

Y11

• The following areas build the basis for the Product Design course: Core Knowledge, Technical Knowledge, and Designing & Making principles
• The course is assessed in two units: 50% controlled assessment and 50% written examination. An NEA coursework is carried out looking at the design process to meet a design problem
• Students look to investigate the area to have a user centred approach to meet and need and design solution. 
  • Research and client information
  • Research conclusions and Specification 
  • Initial Designs and modelling
  • Client testing and evaluation
  • Final assessment of Practical