Aim

• To enable students to further develop their skills of project planning, innovative design, problem solving and self-evaluation.  
• To engage students in working with others in collaboration.  
• To allow students to bring creativity to a practical problem 

Topics covered

The students will work on two main projects. One 3D Design focussed and one with a focus on Engineering:

• The Desk Tidy project allows students to explore and discover how wooden to work with timber and polymers in order to create a personal and decorative desk tidy. The project introduces the students to CAD (Computer Aided Design) and helps develop skills already experienced from Year 7 (3D Design) 

• The BBQ Flipper project gives the students an opportunity to develop further their experience of engineering and working with timber and metals. The students will mark out cut shape and a assemble a BBQ flipper/spatula from stock materials. They will also use CAD/CAM to create a uniquely designed handle. 

Other subjects/ topics embedded within the projects include:  

• Development of graphic skills  

• Practical hand skills and use of tools  

• Sketching and drawing as a problem-solving tool  

• Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture 

Teaching groups

For Health and Safety reasons, the maximum group size that we have in a workshop is 20 students. Groups are all mixed ability, as Design and Technology is an area in which all students should be able to achieve. 

Assessment

Students’ levels are assessed through the use of project booklets and on completion of their practical outcome. Students regularly participate in assessing their own work and that of their peers and are actively encouraged to discuss their work in front of other classmates. 

How to support at home

• Students with long hair will be required to tie it up during Design and Technology lessons due to strict health and safety regulations 
• Finished practical work can be taken home and we usually ask for a small contribution towards costs. A note will be sent home at the appropriate time for this 
• Students will be required to complete small homework task to help consolidate ideas explored in the lessons