Design & Technology

What is Design & Technology?

Design and technology is the study, design, development, application, implementation, support and management of computer and non-computer-based technologies for the express purpose of communicating product design intent and constructability. Design technology can be applied to the problems encountered in construction, operation, and maintenance of a product. Design and technology is all about being creative, iterative, and becoming independent through learning human life skills.

Why do we teach Design & Technology at HAWI?

The KS3 curriculum has been designed with the four key elements; design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge. Students get to use their imaginative thinking skills, to solve real and relevant problems within many contexts. They will need to consider their own, other’s needs, wants and values. Through analysis of past and present products, students will develop a critical knowledge and understanding of the wider issues in daily life, such as the impact products have on our environment and planet. Students will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge across many disciplines: mathematics, science, geography, history, engineering, computing, art, religious studies, and business studies. Where Design and technology interlinks with so many other subjects, students will recall on previous learning across the range of strands offered at HAWI; giving them a strong powerful academic knowledge of facts that can be implemented to prepare them for KS4 assessments and future careers. Our main aim is to ensure that all learners receive a high quality KS3 design and technology curriculum, therefore making an essential contribution to the creativity, wealth, culture, and well-being of the whole nation.

How do we teach Design & Technology at HAWI?

Our curriculum has been designed with a broad variation of projects and design outcomes, focused on building a key foundation of skills and knowledge throughout KS3. Each scheme of work begins with a rationale and ‘Big Question’ where a sequence of lessons are delivered to ensuring that students will gain technical knowledge across several types of materials and processes within the delivery of each project. Working with different tools and machinery, will give them great confidence and independence. The assessment for learning has been redesigned to support students’ success and progress during KS3, with 50% being design and make based and 50% gained from technical knowledge. The design and technology curriculum has been divided into four key principals: design, make, evaluate and technical knowledge. All students will gain knowledge and skills under all four principals, in the department curriculum plans.

Within the design and technology curriculum, food and nutrition is also categorised under the KS3 specification of learning objectives. Therefore, food projects have been incorporated into the curriculum design and assessments. Students will receive 1.5 terms of Design and technology and 1.5 terms of food and nutrition each year throughout KS3. They will also complete an end of unit written assessment for each unit of work they complete.

How do we make Design & Technology memorable at HAWI?

Throughout the Academy, we aim to make a positive impact to develop innovative, creative, and inquisitive students who ask questions of the made world surrounding them. By offering a wealth of opportunities at all Key Stages, we aim to develop independent learners who can create high quality prototypes and dishes in their Design Technology and Food lessons. Other than curriculum lessons, we have incorporated memorable, educational trips. In year 7 students visit the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) and the Natural History Museum to open up their minds, gaining inspiration from past iconic designers and to observe nature and the environment in a different context. During KS4 students will visit the Design Museum, where they are able to an analyse iconic designs in a much greater depth. They will also visit the popular Switzerland furniture store ‘IKEA,’ to grasp the concept of mass production, flat-packed products and knocked down fittings before developing their very own GCSE prototypes. Both educational trips are vital to bringing DT (Design & Technology) to real life situations.

There is also the opportunity for weekly enrichment for year 7 and 8. Students who are creative, open minded and ready to solve real problems benefit from partaking in these enrichment clubs. Whether they prefer Food Nutrition or Design Technology, both are available for students who endeavour to learn more. Students can design and manufacture real functioning products, which have a particular use in society. Whether these products are designed for use in the home, school or outdoors, they will incorporate many fun activities and skills.

Design and cooking competitions are other memorable opportunities available for students at HAWI. Across all year groups they can enter any of these competitions, whether it be the best decorated cake or an upcycled product developed for a new purpose, exciting events will take place each year. Not forgetting the Art, Design and Technology exhibition held at the end of the academic year to celebrate all outstanding outcomes and products produced. Parents and visitors are invited to share the success students have achieved.

Please click here for Year 7 Design & Technology curriculum guide

Please click here for Year 8 Design & Technology curriculum guide

Please click here for Year 9 Design & Technology curriculum guide

Please click here for Year 10 Design & Technology curriculum guide

Please click here for Year 10 Food Preparation & Nutrition curriculum guide

Please click here for Year 11 Design & Technology curriculum guide

Please click here for Year 11 Food Preparation & Nutrition curriculum guide