Design and Technology Intent
Our D&T curriculum develops your design and making skills; combining traditional (handmade skills) and modern manufacturing techniques (CAD/CAM for example) exploring a variety of material areas such as product design, food, electronics and textiles. You will be challenged in ways which encourage you to work independently and collaboratively; designing, problem solving and creating.
Subject Overview
Design and Technology at Chestnut Grove Academy is taught in a way that nurtures young thinkers and inspires them to be the designers for the next generation.
Students are challenged in ways that encourage them to work independently; designing, problem solving and creating. We deliver strong and diverse projects that cater for students of all capabilities and that encourage them to look at the world and investigate how they can use design to improve it.
Qualifications / curriculum offer
Key Stage 3 structure
There are 4 elements to each project in D&T:
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Technical knowledge: “the knowing”, background and context. For example, before you use materials, like woods, you need to know their properties so you can select the best one to suit your project.
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Design: this is when you get ideas down on paper. Your ideas need to be unique, innovative and creative. They also need to fulfil the design problem and brief you have been given at the start of the project.
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Make: often referred to as ‘realising design ideas’. This is predominantly skills based learning. Sometimes this also means what you are doing isn’t making a final product but experimenting with materials.
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Evaluate reflecting on the project and writing what has gone well and what needs further improvement. This could also include asking your client and target market what they think of the final prototype.
Key Stage 4: GCSE Design and Technology (AQA)
Students work independently and are guided by their teacher through mini-projects ending in a final Controlled Assessment in Year 11. All Key Stage 4 students currently follow the AQA GCSE Design and Technology course.
Key Stage 5: A Level Design and Technology (Edexcel)
Choosing Design and Technology at A level prepares you well for a world of design based opportunities in higher education and careers. Some examples include but are not limited to: Architecture, including interior architecture and landscape architecture, Product Design, Fashion Design and Engineering.
Curriculum Plans
Year 7 Project Outline
Year 8 Project Outline
Year 9 Project Outline
Year 10 Curriculum Guide
Year 11 Curriculum Guide
Year 12 and 13 Curriculum Framework
Learning Resources
Websites such as www.technologystudent.com and www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/ are great for building independent learning skills in Key Stage 3 Design and Technology.
GCSE Design and Technology:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552
A Level Design and Technology
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels/design-technology-product-design-2017.html
Enrichment activities
London is rich in terms of design, architecture and art. As part of their studies, students visit many places such as The Design Museum and the V&A allowing them to see how design shapes our everyday lives. In addition, we have a variety of designers who will come in to run workshops which allow students to engage with real life briefs. Our D&T club also runs every Tuesday which all students are welcome to attend.
Our Lego robotics club runs everything Thursday which cumulates into a competition at the RAF Museum in Hendon in April.
Staffing: