The Design & Technology Department
The Design & Technology Department is committed to preparing the pupils to participate in a changing world. Our goal is to maximise participation in Design & Technology by all pupils. The working environment across the department is good, as are the facilities for designing and making products.
They are encouraged to combine practical skills with an understanding of design to produce work of a high standard and quality.
The pupils are encouraged to learn to think and be creative both individually and as part of a team. They are encouraged to combine practical skills with an understanding of design to produce work of a high standard and quality.
The aims of the department are;
- To develop pupils’ understanding of design and technology through combining designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make products.
- To improve pupils’ understanding of the significance of design and technology to the economy and quality of life.
- To help pupils investigate and respond to opportunities to make or modify something.
- To stimulate pupils to use their knowledge and understanding to devise a method or solution, realise it practically and evaluate the end product.
- To encourage pupils to understand the unending quality of design and technological development.
- To help pupils to work to deadlines, keep budgets and reconcile conflicting requirements such as speed and cost.
- To encourage the acquisition of a range of skills and work with a variety of materials.
- To encourage pupils to understand the relevance of Information and Communications Technology to their lives and to use its various forms in their work.
At Key Stage 3 all pupils study Resistant Materials, Food and Textiles during the course of the year. In Years 7 and 8 pupils are given a taste of designing and making products using different materials or ingredients. In Year 9, pupils select the area they feel they are more suited to. They then choose the area they wish to study through to GCSE level.
In Key Stage 4 pupils follow one of the following courses through to GCSE:
- Design & Technology Resistant Materials
- Design & Technology Graphics
- Design & Technology Textiles
- CITB Foundation Construction Award
All of the courses offered are suited to the needs of both boys and girls and all consist of coursework involving a design and make project as well as an end of course written examination.
The department has specialist teaching rooms and access to two dedicated ICT areas
The department has contributed to links with our primary schools by providing workshops for both their pupils and staff. We take an active part in Year 6 inclusion days to ease the transition into secondary school. We also have links with Hartlepool 6th Form College and the Hartlepool College of Further Education.
The department has specialist teaching rooms and access to two dedicated ICT areas, as well as Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing equipment, including automated bread making, CNC Sewing, Milling and Routing machines.
The department encourages extra-curricular activities by providing clubs in all areas of Design & Technology at lunchtimes and after school. There is also a “Young Engineers” club which takes part in annual competitions.
