The Design Technology team put pupils first and work very hard to help all pupils succeed. We believe in encouraging pupils to become independent learners who are able to think through problem solving tasks. Our curriculum integrates the use of ICT skills along with Literacy and Numeracy skills. We offer a comprehensive programme of after school clubs to support teaching and learning as well as e-learning through our FRONTER VLE.

Where possible we take pupils out of the classroom to enrich their curriculum; Textiles take pupils to visit the Clothes Show in Birmingham; GCSE Catering and food pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a National Cooking Competition.

Mr P. Balmforth Head of Department Teacher of Graphics & Food	Mr G.Beck Second in Department Teacher of Resistant Materials

Miss P. Collins Teacher of Catering  & Child Development	Mrs S. Goodley Teacher of Textiles & GCSE Food	Mrs S. Swinburn Head of Gainsborough House Teacher of Resistant Materials

Mrs. S Geddes Teaching Assistant	Mr N. Swann Technology Technician

 

 

Key Stage 3

We operate a ‘circus’ system in which groups move between Resistant Materials, Food, Graphics and Textile projects.
 
Year 7

Projects covered: Cushions Design, Steady Hand Game, Aerosol Can design and Licence to Cook Food projects
 

Year 8

Projects covered: Bird box, Mechanical Toy, Design a Bag and Licence to Cook Food projects 
 

Year 9

Projects covered: Graphic Skills, LED Torch, Design & Make an Apron and Licence to Cook Food projects

  

Key Stage 4
We work to the AQA specifications for Resistant Materials, Graphics, Food and Textiles courses. We also now offer the Welsh Board Catering course which is a more practical based cooking course..
Our GCSE courses involve coursework which amounts to 60% of the final grade and the exam makes up the final 40% of the qualification. All courses involve focused practical tasks and design and make tasks. Our coursework proves to be very rewarding for pupils but personal organisation and independent learning is essential.
 

We currently use the OCR GCSE courses for our current KS4 pupils.