Design Technology and Vocational Learning

The Design Technology and Vocation Learning Faculty strives to provide outstanding lessons in which students achieve well, enjoy their learning and are creative. We aim to provide a stimulating environment with a hard-working and positive atmosphere, where students encourage one another and are inspired to be successful. We hope that students will learn to work confidently, independently and creatively, incorporating new technologies at every opportunity and learning to be prepared for the world of lifelong learning and the career that awaits them.

Staff

Name	Role
Mark Richards	Head of Design, Technology and Vocational Learning
Nick Ruddlesdin	Teacher of Design and Technology
Michelle Vickers	Teacher of Design and Technology
Sian Taylor	Teacher of Design and Technology
Julie Underwood	Teacher of Hair and Beauty and Design and Technology
Emma Ferrarelli	Teacher of Child Development

Years 7 & 8

The Design and Technology course in years 7 & 8 provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to access the Design and Technology, Engineering, Materials Technology, Textiles and Food courses in years 9, 10 & 11. Year 7 is intended as an introduction to many new skills and processes including; using a sewing machine, using workshop tools and machinery, learning to solder and preparing food using healthy ingredients and simple techniques. These skills are built on in year 8 where students learn more advanced techniques such as; soldering to a printed circuit board, using CAD/CAM such as 3D printers and vinyl cutters, sublimations printing and combining food ingredients in more complex ways.

	Praising Stars 1-6
Year 7	Food or Textiles Projects include: Pencil Case Food Safety Healthy Eating Basic Food Preparation Skills	Electronics, Design and Technology and Graphic Products Projects include: Alarm Soft Drink Clock
Year 8	Food or Textiles Projects include: Kooky Kritter Healthy Eating Further Food Preparation Skills	Electronics, Design and Technology and Graphic Products Projects include: Speaker Food Dispenser CAD/CAM USB Stick

Praising Stars 1-6

Year 7

Food or Textiles

Projects include:

Pencil Case

Food Safety

Healthy Eating

Basic Food Preparation Skills

Electronics, Design and Technology and Graphic Products

Projects include:

Alarm

Soft Drink

Clock

Year 8

Food or Textiles

Projects include:

Kooky Kritter

Healthy Eating

Further Food Preparation Skills

Electronics, Design and Technology and Graphic Products

Projects include:

Speaker

Food Dispenser

CAD/CAM USB Stick

Years 9, 10 & 11

In years 9, 10 & 11, we offer Textiles, Electronic Products, Food and Nutrition and Engineering at GCSE level – all through the AQA ‘Design and Technology’ specifications.
Child Development is offered as a GCSE.

We also offer a level 2 vocational course in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy and examined through VTCT.

	Praising Stars 1	Praising Stars 3	Praising Stars 5

Year 9
Hair and Beauty	Research Project	Responding to a brief	Understanding the Hair and Beauty Sector
Product Design	Skills Building and exam preparation	Investigating the design context and exam preparation	Design and development and exam preparation
Child Development	Family topic and exam preparation	Pregnancy, birth topics and exam preparation	Research Task - Child Study and exam preparation
Engineering	Unit 1 - Introduction to Engineering	Unit 2 - Introduction to Engineering drawing	Unit 3 - Tools and equipment for Engineering
Year 10
Hair and Beauty	Understanding the Hair and Beauty Sector	Exam preparation	Marketing hair and beauty products
Product Design	Manufacturing final design and exam preparation	Testing and evaluation and exam preparation	Client based project and exam preparation
Child Development	Research task - child study and exam preparation	Child study and exam preparation	Child study coursework and exam preparation
Engineering	Unit 4 - Engineering materials and their properties and exam preparation	Exam preparation	Client based project and exam preparation