Throughout KS3 students develop the essential Design and Technology skills of designing, making and evaluation while acquiring technical knowledge. Students in year 7,8 and 9 spend a term and a half studying Food or Design Technology, then rotate the second part of the school year. Over the course of the 3 year period they will visit each area once a year.
What do students study?
At Key Stage 3 the main areas of study are Food Technology and Product Design, which is a combination of Resistant Materials, Systems & Control and Graphics. Each term students rotate to a different material area and, over the course of the three year period, they will visit each of them three times for a term each year.
Cooking & Nutrition: In Cooking & Nutrition we concentrate on teaching students practical cookery skills in order to help them understand the characteristics of ingredients and about their diet and nutritional needs. This helps students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to make and implement healthy food choices and to be comfortable and confident in a kitchen. They can then use this experience to support the ‘design and make’ element of Cooking & Nutrition, where they use their knowledge to solve problems. This course prepares students for the GCSE Catering option in KS4.
Product Design: In Product Design students are introduced to a large variety of workshop skills using the Resistant Materials such as wood, metal and plastics. The projects are comprised of a combination of electronics, mechanisms and structures, collectively known as Systems & Control. These projects are finished using the presentation techniques of Graphics. Students complete one project per term in general, which are of quality finish and function. Computer Aided Design and Manufacture, CAD/CAM, is also explored in Product Design and students are encouraged to use Iterative Design, the process of constant evolution and improvement, when solving design problems. This is a broad and varied course equipping students with the core skills to follow the exciting GCSE Product Design course in KS4.
How are students assessed?
In Key Stage 3 students are assessed on their practical capabilities as well as their knowledge and understanding of the materials and processes used in each area. Assessment is done throughout the course using teacher, peer and self-assessment. There are many assessment opportunities throughout each term and summative grades are collected twice during each term/project. Students should always be able to articulate their current rate of progress and, more importantly, what they must do to further improve and progress. A final grade is given at the end of each module. As each term presents students with a fresh challenge grades can often see a slight dip in grade at the beginning as they get to grips with the subject content. This is also evident at the beginning of year 7 where the style of teaching of projects and assessment at KS2 changes to those of KS3. This is quite normal and not a cause for concern.
Contact Alison Kirsch, Head of Technology for further information:
What do students study?
At Key Stage 3 the main areas of study are Food Technology and Product Design, which is a combination of Resistant Materials, Systems & Control and Graphics. Each term students rotate to a different material area and, over the course of the three year period, they will visit each of them three times for a term each year.
Cooking & Nutrition: In Cooking & Nutrition we concentrate on teaching students practical cookery skills in order to help them understand the characteristics of ingredients and about their diet and nutritional needs. This helps students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to make and implement healthy food choices and to be comfortable and confident in a kitchen. They can then use this experience to support the ‘design and make’ element of Cooking & Nutrition, where they use their knowledge to solve problems. This course prepares students for the GCSE Catering option in KS4.
Product Design: In Product Design students are introduced to a large variety of workshop skills using the Resistant Materials such as wood, metal and plastics. The projects are comprised of a combination of electronics, mechanisms and structures, collectively known as Systems & Control. These projects are finished using the presentation techniques of Graphics. Students complete one project per term in general, which are of quality finish and function. Computer Aided Design and Manufacture, CAD/CAM, is also explored in Product Design and students are encouraged to use Iterative Design, the process of constant evolution and improvement, when solving design problems. This is a broad and varied course equipping students with the core skills to follow the exciting GCSE Product Design course in KS4.
How are students assessed?
In Key Stage 3 students are assessed on their practical capabilities as well as their knowledge and understanding of the materials and processes used in each area. Assessment is done throughout the course using teacher, peer and self-assessment. There are many assessment opportunities throughout each term and summative grades are collected twice during each term/project. Students should always be able to articulate their current rate of progress and, more importantly, what they must do to further improve and progress. A final grade is given at the end of each module. As each term presents students with a fresh challenge grades can often see a slight dip in grade at the beginning as they get to grips with the subject content. This is also evident at the beginning of year 7 where the style of teaching of projects and assessment at KS2 changes to those of KS3. This is quite normal and not a cause for concern.
Contact Alison Kirsch, Head of Technology for further information:
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