In the Lower School, Design and Technology is a subject which spans the curriculum.  National Curriculum criteria are followed closely in project-based work which links the different disciplines of Design and Technology, Food Studies, Textiles and Information Technology.  These subjects will be co-ordinated to improve pupils’ understanding of the significance of technology in the economy and to their quality of life.

In all Key Stage 3 work, pupils will be investigating a need or responding to an opportunity to make or modify products.  They will use their knowledge and understanding to devise a method or solution to a problem, realise it practically and evaluate the end product.  Pupils will keep a comprehensive folder of work that records not only the end products of their efforts but also the development work leading to the final outcome.

In Year 9 we run a very successful ‘Technology For All’ course.  Pupils will have hands-on experience in Citizenship, Batch Production, Information Communication Technology, CAD/CAM, Industrial Textiles Production and Smart Materials.

KS4 in Design Technology

In the Upper School, the Design and Technology Department follows the National Curriculum Key Stage 4 in Technology.

Years 10 and 11 Options and examinations in the Design and Technology Department:-   

GCSE  DT:      
Graphic Products     
DT:        Resistant Materials     
DT:       Textiles    
B.Tec   CAD/CAM  
B.Tec   Construction

Design and Technology:  Graphic Products / Resistant Materials / Textiles

These options focus on the communication of ideas in designing and making and are contemporary subjects which deal with the development of the ability to communicate by graphical or practical means.  Self-discipline, analytical thinking, progressive reasoning and creativity are skills which are taught and practised with an emphasis on order and accuracy in visual representation.

B.TEC courses available in Design and Technology

These courses are being offered to link students to the 16-19 initiative which is very ‘work place’ orientated.  All will give students a basic knowledge that will allow them to pursue career paths in the future

B.TEC CAD/CAM.

This is a course that allows students to experience how designers work in industry. We use CAD CAM software, popular in industry, to help design and make products using state of the art technology. Students will understand the industrial process of how to send design information from computers straight to CAM machines which we have in school.  The course is worth the equivalent of 2 G.C.S.E’s


B.TEC Construction

We have recently developed a Construction Centre and are offering B.Tec Construction (Brickwork) for the first time.  Students will undertake skills needed to work in the Construction Industry and will gain 2 GCSE’s with successful completion of the course.

Fast track classes for Gifted and Talented

We run Super-Track classes in Design and Technology starting in Year 8 whereby students take their GCSE a year early.   So far we have had 200 students through the scheme with 100% passes at  A – C.

For further information, please visit the D. T Department and take a look at our achievements.  Be sure to ask the staff or the students any questions you may have and we will do our best to answer them.

IT IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL PUPILS TO WEAR A PROTECTIVE APRON FOR PRACTICAL WORK.