Design and Technology

Design and Technology

The Design & Technology Department at Abersychan School has two dedicated classrooms, an ICT suite, a Resistant Materials workshop, a Construction area and a Food Technology kitchen in the main building. All rooms are well equipped with specialised equipment and ICT facilities for pupils to use.

The department offers a number of courses, which are delivered on a carousel system in key stage three and as option choices in key stage four.

Department Structure

Key Stage 3

Throughout the year the classes will be on a carousel, meaning that the pupils will have three specialist teachers in one year. The classes will rotate subjects every 12 weeks. This will ensure that the national curriculum is met and that the pupils experience a broad and exciting range of experiences, skills and tasks throughout the year.

Year 7
Textiles: Sock Monkey	Resistant materials: Acrylic Keyring	Food technology: Healthy eating and skills
Year 8
Textile: Fuzzy Foods	Resistant materials: CAD CAM wooden box	Food technology: World food
Year 9
Textiles: Souvenir / upcycling project	Resistant materials: Desk Tidy	Food technology: Come dine with me challenge

Key Stage 4

WJEC GCSE Health, Social Care and Childcare

The course is studied over a two year period. There are two units of work to complete. Unit 1 is an exam which is sat at the end of year 10 and potentially 11. This is worth 50% of the overall grade.

Unit 2 is worth 50% of the course and is an NEA (coursework), which consists of two tasks that have to be complete within 25 hours.

Topics that are taught throughout the course:

Human development through the life stages
Factors effecting health and development
Heath promotion
Health care services and provision

WJEC Vocational Hospitality and Catering

This course encourages learners to gain an understanding of the hospitality industry, including job roles, enterprise and finance, healthy lifestyles, and preparing and presenting food and beverages.

This course will include two units. One is an external exam, the other will be internally assessed coursework: the learners have to research and complete a two course high skilled meal following a brief.

Topics that are taught:

The hospitality and catering industry in action
Food safety and health and safety in hospitality
Planning, preparing, cooking and finishing food
Health, safety and legislations

WJEC GCSE Product design

The course is studied over a two year period; year 10 will be modular, whereby pupils will undertake many small design and make tasks which can relate to a theme or interest of their choice. These projects will develop designing and making skills which will be used in year 11 for the final assessed piece of work.

Pupils will be assessed in year 11 on the basis of a non-exam assessment; this is a 35 hour major project (worth 50%). Pupils will be required to design and make the product – an A3 design portfolio which will be no longer than 15 pages along with a sketchbook. The exam board will set the task. Also, a written examination (worth 50%) testing knowledge of the subject will be sat at the end of year 11.

Assessment and homework

Key Stage 3

There will be at least two pieces of homework to complete at home for each unit of work/project. There are two assessment focus areas for each project being taught. It is important to act upon the feedback and suggestions on how improve the work to ensure success and the best possible level is achieved.

All classwork and homework will be set via google classroom to help pupils and guardians keep track of work.

Key Stage 4

Pupils will regularly be assessed by the teacher in a range of ways in class, past paper questions will be used in school, during lesson time and at home for homework. Pupils will also sit a mock exam under exam conditions in the main hall. Pupils will complete specific coursework assignments that count towards the final grade.

All classwork and homework will be set via google classroom to help pupils and guardians keep track of work.

After school sessions

Throughout the year there will be additional after school sessions to complete work to the best possible standard. Each subject will have a dedicated session after school as per the revision timetable. It would be beneficial for the pupils to attend to ensure the best possible outcome in the subject.

Teachers

Mrs James – Subject Leader – jennifer.tyler@abersychanschool.co.uk

Mrs Anthony - Natasha.Anthony@abersychanschool.co.uk

Miss Jones – Teacher of Textiles – beth.jones @abersychanschool.co.uk

Useful links

Technology student - http://www.technologystudent.com/

BBC bitesize - https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zfr9wmn