Design Technology
What Is Special About This Subject?
As designers we stimulate creativity, curiosity, and conscience to develop Technicians, Designers and Engineers who are passionate about problem solving and developing a better future. They take pride in their responsibility and moral obligation to create inspirational design solutions for an inclusive and sustainable global society.
What Is The Learning Journey Through This Subject?
Key Stage 3 Design & Technology
WHAT WILL I LEARN ON THIS COURSE?
Throughout KS3, NTC students will develop their knowledge and skills within a selection of D&T areas. Each component will cover a range of learning aims that will be assessed through the completion of several assignments. These will inspire the students and encourage them to understand and explore materials in our course components.
Students will experience all the components at least once in the 3-year Key Stage to enable them to make an informed choice for Key Stage 4.
COURSE COMPONENTS
- Resistant Materials – Working with hard and soft woods, manufactured boards, mild steel, aluminium and plastics (polymers).
- Electronics– Exploring and designing circuits with a range of components to produce several different electronic products.
- CAD /CAM– Exploring how computer aided design and manufacturing can make useful products.
- Product design – Design process, production planning and record keeping of steps and stages.
- Technical Drawing/Graphics – Developing drawing skills and techniques to produce advanced working drawings and pictorial views of products.
- Engineering – Working with metals on centre lathes and milling machines.
- Safe working practice across all areas and stages of manufacturing
ASSIGNMENTS
Year 7: Our learners will develop a basic understanding of resistant materials with project that will range from metalwork to woodworking and finally polymers. Basic computer-aided design (CAD) skills will be imbedded throughout the year. Safe working practice, Creative design and the design process will form part of the delivery of each component to stimulate learners and create safe young designers. We will be working closely with other STEM subjects to produce products that will be in line with our focus on sustainability with links to our nature reserve.
Year 8: Our learners will be introduced to electronics with a first term project that will refresh the skills acquired in year 7 to produce a product that will include the workshop safety, design process, computer-aided design (CAD), resistant materials with an electronic component. The natural progression from hand tools to machining will be explored throughout. Learners will be introduced to production planning to compliment product design. Casting and forge work will be included. Links to food and nutrition will be key within the delivery of each of the projects.
Year 9: The delivery throughout this year will be mainly focussed on engineering to allow students an opportunity to experience their possible option choice. A range of graphic design, engineer's graphics, interpreting engineer’s drawings, creating production plans and using tools, equipment and machining safely will allow our students to explore several engineering sectors and possible future pathways post KS4. Computer-aided design (CAD), Lathe work, forge work and milling will be explored in depth.
ASSESSMENT
Students are assessed on the assignments they complete in each component and over the years will be assessed on each aspect of the Learning Aims.
Assessments will be used to track student progress, inform decisions about groups, potential KS4 courses and create individual targets which will raise student aspirations.
Students will also be assessed on their ability to independently use tools and machinery properly, safely and with accuracy.
EXTRACURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
Students will be encouraged to join the D&T club.
Clear links to Computing, ICT & Business Studies.
Continuous links to sustainability and STEM
GIFTED & TALENTED PROVISION
Students are encouraged to exceed targets across Key Stage 3 using a course designed with appropriate extension assignments to prepare all students for transition into Key Stage 4.
Key Stage 4 – BTEC TECH AWARD In Engineering
WHAT WILL I LEARN ON THIS COURSE?
Engineering is a driving force in the UK’s economy, accounting for 21.4% (£1.2 trillion) of the UK’s £5.7 trillion turnover in 2018 However, there is a considerable shortage of appropriately skilled workers in the engineering sector. One of the reasons for this is due to a lack of awareness among young people of the educational routes into engineering occupations.
The Vocational Award in Engineering has been designed to support learners in schools and colleges who want to learn about this vocational sector and the potential it can offer them for their careers or further study. It is most suitable as a foundation for further study. This further study would provide learners with the opportunity to develop a range of specialist and general skills that would support their progression to employment.
The Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment.
Subject content:
Unit 1 provides learners with the opportunity to interpret different types of engineering information in order to plan how to manufacture engineering products. Learners will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in using a range of engineering tools and equipment in order to manufacture and test an end product
Unit 2 allows learners to explore how an engineered product is adapted and improved over time, and it offers learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to adapt an existing component, element or part of the engineering outcome that they manufactured for Unit 1
Unit 3 introduces learners to a range of considerations that impact on engineering design and how modern engineering has had an impact on modern day life at home, work and in society in general
HOW IS THIS QUALIFICATION TAUGHT AND ASSESSED?
Unit 1: Manufacturing engineering products (INTERNALLY ASSESSED)
Learning aims:
1.1 Understanding engineering drawings
1.2 Planning manufacturing
1.3 Using engineering tools and equipment
1.4 Implementing engineering processes
Unit 2: INVESTIGATING AN ENGINEERING PROJECT (INTERNALLY ASSESSED)
Learning aims:
2.1 Understanding function and meeting requirements
2.2 Proposing design solutions
2.3 Communicating an engineered design solution
2.4 Solving engineering problems
Unit3: Solving Engineering Problems (EXTERNALLY SET AND ASSESSED)
Learning aims:
3.1 Understanding the effects of engineering achievements
3.2 Understanding properties of engineering materials
3.3 Understanding methods of preparation, forming, joining and finishing of engineering materials
3.4 Solving engineering problems
WHAT QUALIFICATION WILL I ACHIEVE?
A WJEC Award in Engineering (Level 1 or 2).
WHERE WILL THIS QUALIFICATION TAKE ME?
Study of the qualification as part of Key Stage 4 learning will help learners to make a more informed choice for further learning either generally or in this sector.
Learners who generally achieve at Level 2 across Key Stage 4 might consider progression to:
- A Levels as preparation for entry into higher education in a range of subjects
- Study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Engineering.
Learners who generally achieve at Level 1 across Key Stage 4 might consider progression to:
- Study at Level 2 post-16 in a range of technical routes designed to lead to progression to employment, apprenticeships or to further study at Level 3.
- Study of engineering post-16 through the study of a technical certificate.
Key Stage 5 – BTEC Engineering
WHAT WILL I LEARN ON THIS COURSE?
In this 2 year course you will follow a variety of units addressing both the fundamentals of working in an engineering workplace and taster units covering the many disciplines of Engineering.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT AND UNITS
Units are assessed by a 2 hour written exam, a supervised 8 hour assignment design task which are both marked by the exam board and continuous assessments which are mainly assignment based.
UNITS:
- Engineering Principles – Mainly mathematics and engineering theory, no practical. Unit is assessed by a 2 hour written exam.
- Delivery of Engineering Processes Safely as a Team – Exploring how processes are undertaken by teams to create engineered products, no practical. Unit is assessed by assignments.
- Engineering Product Design and Manufacture- Exploring product design and manufacturing processes, no practical. Unit is assessed by an 8 hour exam based design task.
- Computer Aided Design in Engineering – Exploring the development of three-dimensional computer aided modelling of engineered products. Development of two-dimensional computer-generated drawings of engineered products and development of computer aided thin-walled models and a fabricated product that can be used as part of other engineering processes.
WHAT QUALIFICATION WILL I ACHIEVE?
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Engineering – equivalent to 1 A level.
Grades A-E (Distinction, Merit & Pass).
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
BTEC Engineering Level 2 Pass (or higher).
DT qualification Grade C or higher.
GCSE Mathematics Grade C or higher – an excellent understanding on how to use GSCE Mathematics is essential.
WHERE WILL THIS QUALIFICATION TAKE ME?
Engineering apprenticeships.
University courses in Electrical, Mechanical or Structural Engineering.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
Please contact Mr Willemse (willemsel@ntc.kent.sch.uk).
USEFUL LINKS
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/about-us/qualification-brands/btec.html
