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. They are also taught about CAD/CAM and start to learn about using some of the computer controlled machinery to produce their own work.

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. The second half of the year will be spent on Food Technology.

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. They also continue to learn about CAD/CAM and continue using the computer controlled machinery to produce their own work.

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

In Food Technology they will continue to build on the knowledge gained in Year 7 by looking at the nutritional needs of different social groups and people of various ages. The pupils will start to develop an understanding of how foods are manufactured and the processes behind creating new foods through designing and making their own new food product.

Year 9

In Year 9, the pupils will spend half a year studying Resistant Materials and Systems and Control. The second half of the year will be spent on Food Technology.

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. They also continue to learn about CAD/CAM and continue using the computer controlled machinery to produce their own work.

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.

In Food Technology they will be increasing their practical skills through making more complex dishes such as pastry which will both prepare those pupils wishing to continue Food Technology to GCSE and the freedom of choosing a filling for the pastry will excite all the pupils as they will be making their own pastry creation! The pupils will learn about the processes involved in manufacturing foods and understand how preservatives and additives are used to enhance foods for their required purpose. The pupils will also learn how to analyse the nutritional contents of food to discover how to ensure that all dietary needs are met adequately.

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. Pupils have two 1-hour Design and Technology lessons per fortnight. They are assessed regularly through teacher assessment and are awarded a National Curriculum level at the end of Year 9.

Key Stage 4

At KS4, pupils can opt to study a GCSE in Design and Technology. Pupils can choose which of the three subjects they wish to study and it is possible for a pupil to do more than one GCSE in Design and Technology if we agree that this is appropriate in light of the pupil's aptitude and future career plans.

All three GCSE Design and Technology subjects are assessed and examined in the same way: 60% of the GCSE 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 sat at the end of Year 11. The pupils have a great deal of flexibility in their coursework, and are able to select from a wide variety of projects.

GCSE Systems and Control

This is split up into three areas:

  • Electronics
  • Mechanisms
  • Computer control

The 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. During Computer Control, the pupils use control boxes, and learn and practically 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 look at industrial manufacturing and the different ways and machines which are used to produce products in large numbers.

GCSE Food

During their time undertaking the Food Technology GCSE, pupils build on the knowledge gained at Key Stage 3, such as the issues surrounding diet and nutrition and food safety and hygiene. During the two year course, pupils look at all aspects of the design and manufacturing process by creating their own food products from concept to completion. Pupils 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, the pupils 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. Pupils 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 in the kitchen.

Key Stage 5

A KS5 A Level Design and Technology course will be offered from September 2012. This will follow the AQA Product Design (3D Design) course and will be open to pupils who have studied either GCSE Resistant Materials, or GCSE Systems and Control.

Enrichment

The Design and Technology Department offers a variety of enrichment activities:

There is an open technology lunchtime session for all years on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, where pupils can come along to catch-up with class work, or to work on their own mini projects.

Food Enrichment sessions take place on three days a week, in which pupils are encouraged to further explore food preparation and cooking skills previously learned in lessons.

During the classic car rebuilding enrichment pupils have been dismantling a 30 year old Land Rover. They are now overhauling each part, before refitting them on to the rebuilt chassis. Once the car is complete, it will be put through an MOT test, before selling the vehicle on to pay for the next project.

There are also early morning and after school opportunities for Year 10 and 11 pupils to continue helping with the classic car rebuilding.


Facilities

In November 2009, the Design Technology Department moved into 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. The equipment is some of the latest and most up to date CAD/CAM machinery available, including a Vinyl cutting machine, Laser cutter, and a 3D Router.