Curriculum

Technology

Subject Staff

Mrs Tuck

Mrs Barker

Ms White 

Ms Roberts 

Ms Brown

Exam Board

AQA

Revision

The Subject Way

Our subject has a ‘Subject Way’ at the heart of it. Our Subject Way is designed to help students become young subject specialists. The Subject Way has two main purposes:

Firstly, to teach students the vital skills they need to achieve their full potential and gain the very best grades they can. Secondly, to teach students how each subject relates to the wider world, incorporating the life skills they will learn.

It is our belief that knowing how what you learn links to the wider world brings a subject to life and therefore improves overall understanding and engagement.
 

Curriculum Intent

To develop students to be lifelong learners, have the confidence and skill to be able to contribute to an ever changing global community. Draw on Transferable knowledge and problem solving skills to creatively design and manufacture products which make a positive impact to society. They will consider the needs, wants and values to solve real life problems. They will use a range of disciplines such as mathematics, engineering, computing and art. They will evaluate the work of others and consider the impact on daily life.

We strive to develop a curriculum where Design and Technology makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, health and well being of the students at Rawmarsh and the wider world.

In key stage 3 students are given the skills and knowledge to confidently select tools and materials and have a grounding on basic marking out cutting and fabrication skills. In Key Stage 4 Design and Technology strives to ensure all students have a broad experience and cultural capital. They analyse and research current products and designers to inspire them to design and make artefacts. This develops into design led study where students evaluate and solve problems creatively to satisfy a design brief and end user

  • Develop creativity and practical expertise
  • Be able to design and make high quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
  • Critically evaluate their ideas, products and work of others
  • Understand and apply the principles of nutrition

 

How we Aim to remove Barriers to learning:

Being able to communicate fluently whether that be to speak articulately or being able to communicate through writing is one of the biggest barriers to employment. Basic literacy and numeracy are key elements which we strive to develop in our technology curriculum. Students need to be able to effectively describe products and processes using subject specific language and terminology.This is done through the use of the schools literacy and vocabulary model as well as reciprocal reading. Students are introduced to tier ⅔ language which they are tested on and expected to use within the classroom and within their work.

Throughout the curriculum there are opportunities for students to use functional maths in order for them to confidently use these either in employment or in their home life. Functional maths skills might include calculating area and estimating prices for construction tasks such as tiling or scaling measurements to work out precise ingredients for a recipe. We support students through differentiated learning by using templates, support and broken down chunked lessons by outcome and for visual impairment a range of outcomes dependent on topic. With TA support we target how and who to help both groups and individuals we use seating plans, colour overlays and paper and ensure physical disability access to areas.

 

How we are developing skills for learning:

Design and technology is arguably the only subject where students are required to solve problems creatively. Mental health is currently a very pertinent issue amongst all schools. One way we can help encourage and promote happy, healthy students is to encourage and develop their creativity. We have developed schemes of work and projects which allow students to develop and refine ideas and take inspiration from other designers and design movements. Faculty CPD is used to discuss, plan and develop forthcoming topics and learn new skills. We share different resources, methods and skills to help enhance assessment and delivery using BRAG stickers, teacher, pupil and peer feedback to help enhance learning.

 

How we are Fostering Personal Attributes:

The Technology department fully embraces the ‘Rawmarsh Way’ , its intentions and goals. We encourage students to rise to the challenge in lessons and take risks in designing artefacts. We are constantly striving to improve and develop ideas and find creative solutions. The students take pride in the presentation of their work which is checked by their classroom teacher and presentation of work stickers are applied to their work. We encourage students to half termly strive for the “Gold” awards and achieve recognition on a poster and a sticker for their folders/books. They take pride in and look after our equipment and tools and ensure workshops are left in good order so others can use them. We have high expectations and learn to respect each other’s work and space in order for students to work safely in workshops. We encourage and expect students to work hard in lessons and take responsibility for their actions.

 

How we are Enriching Students experiences and broadening their horizons:

In Technology we introduce students to a wide variety of different design movements and current designers. Students analyse current products and processes as well as traditional processes. We introduce students to a whole range of careers and jobs which can be accessed through the subjects we offer. Areas of our curriculum are designed so students are given real life scenarios in which they can use skills and knowledge they have learnt to formulate solutions. We try to offer trips for students to see employment opportunities and gain an understanding of the relevance of the curriculum. We offer a range of enrichment opportunities for students to experience in the breath of our subject areas.

Our Curriculum

Hospitality

Exam Board: WJEC

Construction

Exam Board: WJEC

Art & Graphics

Exam Board: AQA

Textiles

Exam Board: AQA

Resistant Materials

Exam Board: AQA