Design Technology

What is Design Technology?

Design Technology can be thought of as the creative application of science; the place where Art meets Science.  The subject of Design Technology covers a wide range of activities and skills.  Primarily, it is about SOLVING PROBLEMS and FULFILLING NEEDS. These problems and needs have answers that are sometimes graphical, sometimes mechanical or electronic and increasingly involving the use of CAD/CAM, ICT and other specialist tools and machines.

Key Stage 3

Building upon the skills and knowledge learnt at Key Stage 2, students start to tackle increasingly sophisticated, term-long projects in Years 7, 8 & 9 taking them into great depth in the practical study of areas such as mechanisms, electronics, CAD-CAM and graphics. Each project is a complete design task with rewarding pieces of practical work as the outcome.

Key Stage 4

Consistently, one of the school's most popular IGCSE option choices, Design Technology offers 3 courses for students to tackle at this level; Resistant Materials, Graphic Products or Technology.  Whilst the core of each of these choices is the same, the different courses allows students to specialise somewhat in the area of the subject that they enjoy the most and where they have the greatest ability and interest.  The Major Project, tackled in Year 11, accounts for 50% of the student’s final grade.

Sixth Form

A level Design Technology examination courses allow the students to study the subject at great depth and to develop their abilities in preparation for a range of different University courses and careers in any number of design-related fields.  The scope and depth of the design portfolios and associated practical work that are produced in this area provides some of the most extended and challenging work that a student can tackle at this age, with the school’s displays often being hailed as University-standard.

Mark Holloway
Director of Design Technology