Design & Technology Department

Curriculum

Yavneh College firmly believes that Design and Technology as well as being an academic subject, also teaches pupils practical skills which will help them throughout their lives.  

At Yavneh College Design and Technology is taught as the following three subjects:

  • Resistant Materials
  • Systems and Control
  • Food

Due to the practical nature of the subject the lessons are taught with a very ‘hands-on’ approach. This allows the pupils to gain confidence using many new tools and machinery, and to produce items which they are encouraged to take home.
The pupils will also be taught about “The Design Process”, and they will be encouraged where ever possible to design their own solutions to practical problems.

Homework will be used to reinforce the practical nature of the class lessons. This could take the following formats:

  • Writing up a description of a new practical technique learnt.
  • Researching a tool, machine, or technique.
  • Researching a problem.
  • Designing a solution to a problem.

Throughout KS3 the pupils are taught about the cross curricular links with Science, Maths, Business Studies and ICT.

Year 7

In Year 7, the pupils will spend one term studying each of the three technology subjects:
In Food Technology, pupils explore the basics of nutrition and begin to
understand the principles of good food hygiene, safety in the kitchen and
how to use a variety of kitchen equipment. Teaching is through a mix of
theory, demonstration and practical lessons. Pupils enjoy designing and
making their own healthy recipes almost as much as they enjoy eating the
creations they have made!

In Resistant Materials the pupils are taught about workshop safety and the correct use of many different hand tools and machinery. They primarily work in wood and plastic producing items such as wooden models and pencil holders.

In Systems and Control the pupils are taught about the different types of mechanisms concentrating on Cams, and they go onto produce a small Cam model made out of wood and plastic. They also look at simple electronics and produce a key-ring light.

Year 8

In Year 8, the pupils will spend half a year studying Resistant Materials and Systems and Control. They will not be taught any Food as they covered all of the Year 8 work while they were in Year 7.

In Resistant Materials the pupils are taught about workshop safety and the correct use of many different hand tools and machinery. They primarily work in metal and wood and produce items such as coat hooks, and book ends.

In Systems and Control the pupils are taught about electronics, and they go onto produce a small Steady Hand Game made out of wood.

Year 9

In Year 9, the pupils will spend half a year studying Resistant Materials and Systems and Control. They will not be taught any Food as they covered all of the Year 9 work while they were in Year 7.

In Resistant Materials the pupils are taught about workshop safety and the correct use of many different hand tools and machinery. They primarily work in wood, metal and plastic and produce items such as mobile phone stands, and wooden clocks.

In Systems and Control the pupils are taught about electronics, and Computer Control. They go onto produce a Nightlight made out of plastic, and wood.

The use of modern equipment and techniques is encouraged throughout KS3 and the pupils have access to modern Computer Control equipment in Systems and Control, as well as a computer controlled Vinyl cutting machine. Computer Aided design is also taught through the use of 2D design.

Key Stage 4

Currently, we offer GCSEs in Resistant Materials and Systems and Control. From September 2010, we intend to offer Food Technology as well. All three GCSE Design and Technology subjects are assessed, and examined in the same way: 60% is assessed through a major project which is started in Year 10 and completed during Year 11, 40% of the course is assessed through a 2-hour exam at the end of Year 11. Pupils have a great deal of flexibility with their coursework, and are able to select from a wide variety of available projects.

GCSE Systems and Control
This GCSE is split up into three areas: Electronics, Mechanisms, Computer Control. Pupils study each of the three areas in detail, looking at discrete electronic components, integrated circuits, sensing circuits, switches, logic gates, different types of mechanism including gears, cams, cranks, levers, and linkages. In Computer Control, pupils use control boxes and learn and to use PIC chips. They also look at the environmental impact of using the different types of materials including recycling and reusing existing materials. They look at industrial manufacturing and the different ways and machines which are used to produce products in large numbers. The Systems and Control course also includes an element of Resistant Materials as the pupils will have to make products which included the use of wood, metal and plastic work.

GCSE Resistant Materials
In this subject, pupils further their knowledge of woods, metals, plastics, composites and smart materials. They gain a more detailed knowledge of the properties of the materials, as well as learning new making skills, and the use of new machines including welding, wood and metal lathes, mortising, riveting, screw cutting and the use of CAD/CAM machines. They also look at the environmental impact of using the different types of materials including recycling and reusing existing materials. They also look at industrial manufacturing and the different ways and machines which are used to produce products in large numbers.

GCSE Food Technology
Pupils will build on the knowledge gained at Key Stage 3 such as the issues surrounding diet and nutrition and food safety and hygiene. The GCSE looks at all aspects of the design and manufacturing process, with pupils creating their own food products from concept to completion. Pupils will also use Computer Aided Design (CAD) in order to design labels and packaging as well as using computer software to complete a nutritional analysis of their products. In addition to this, pupils will look at the environmental impact of food manufacture and packaging, including learning about the future of food manufacture such as the increased use of genetically modified foods and new ‘Smart Foods.’ The practical element is a substantial part of the course and pupils will engage in making complex food products such as pastry and meringue both for their coursework and in order to bring the theories of food, diet and nutrition to life through interaction in the kitchen.


Facilities

The Design Technology Department has a purpose-built suite of workshops, including a large well-equipped multi-media workshop with separate technician storeroom and work area, a large workshop dedicated to Food Technology and a third workshop for Systems including a dedicated area for the teaching of Computer Control.