Design and Technology

The Design and Technology Faculty at Sandringham School is committed to providing an exciting, creative and challenging curriculum to all students.

Design Technology covers a wide variety of curriculum areas, these include; Cooking and Nutrition, Electronics, Graphics, Computer-Aided Design, Robotics and Product Design. Our facilities include 3d printers, two laser cutters, designated food rooms, 2 computer suites and 2 comprehensive workshops.

The Design Technology Faculty aims to allow students to combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking, enabling them to design, make and evaluate products. We aim to equip students with the skills to think creatively, be socially, morally and environmentally aware and solve problems as individuals, in pairs and as team members. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop their confidence in using a wide range of tools and equipment.

As a Faculty, we contribute to the whole school policy of providing students with a broad and balanced curriculum which will equip them with skills that they can use in the future and prepare them for today’s world of rapidly changing technology.

Key Stage 3

All students at Key Stage 3 spend two lessons per week (2 x 60 minutes) within Design Technology. Approximately half of the year is spent in Cooking and Nutrition, half the year in Design & Technology. Years 7 & 8 are taught as mixed ability groups, and Year 9 groups are set, based on performance in Year 8.

Design & Technology

Students design and make a variety of products in Year 7, 8 and 9. They learn about the stages of the design process and about a variety of materials such as polymers, timbers, metals, smart materials and electronic components. Students work with a range of tools, equipment and machinery, including; computer-aided design and manufacture through use of laser cutters and 3d printers. Students are strongly encouraged to use their devices creatively to design, research and photograph their progress.

Project topics

Year 7: The Desk Tidy, Electronic badge Project, Chocolate bar design, Bio-mimicry in design, Ugly Dolls – Textiles.
Year 8: CAD modelling, Smart structures, Pop-up cards, Steady Hand Game, 3D Printing.
Year 9: Light them Up (electronics and design), Save the factory (Cad design, laser cutting and 3D Printing), Bring on the noise. (Design for a target audience, electronics and CAD design), Marketing Project (Photoshop skills, working to a brief and producing effective packaging design.).

Cooking and Nutrition

Students learn a variety of practical culinary skills in Years 7, 8 and 9. They will develop their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of ingredients, equipment, processes, nutrition and current health issues.

Year 7: Food Skills 1 & 2, Perfect Picnics.
Year 8: Food around the world, Fruit & Veg in the kitchen, Healthy choices for a healthy life. Healthy eating 5 a day.
Year 9: Take the rise, Skills for all, Nutritious meals & healthier diets.

Key Stage 3 Clubs

Race to the line (Year 7)
Cooking Masterclass (Year 7)
Craft Club (Years 7,8 and 9)
3D printing fun (Year 8 and above)

The Design and Technology faculty also offer a variety of interesting modules in Year 9 ranging from Formula 1 Engineering to Mediterranean Cooking.

Key Stage 4

Students at Sandringham are fortunate to be able to access a wide range of different subjects in the D&T faculty.

Design & Technology (AQA)

Design & Technology is an exciting course; it involves investigating, designing, planning and making quality products using a variety of materials. It provides students with the opportunity to develop communication skills, problem-solving and shows flair, imagination and creativity to design and make prototypes that solve real-life problems.

During the two year course you will study a wide range of materials including papers and boards, timber, metals, polymers and textile fibres and fabrics. You will also develop an understanding of systems, programmable components and mechanisms to support any potential design solutions you may develop later on. This content reflects the importance of design & technology as a pivotal STEM subject.

Food Preparation and Nutrition (OCR)

In Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE you will discover the essentials of food science, build strong practical cookery skills and a good understanding of nutrition.

Throughout the teaching of Food Preparation and Nutrition, you will gain an understanding of the huge challenges that we face globally to supply the world with nutritious and safe food. You will come to understand the science behind the food we eat as well as how to plan meals and nutritional guides for a range of potential users from different backgrounds.

Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE will help you to discover the essentials of the food science behind cooking and bring learning to life.

Hospitality & Catering (WJEC)

Hospitality and Catering is an exciting course designed to develop in learners the knowledge and understanding related to a range of hospitality and catering providers; how they operate and what they have to take into account to be successful. There is the opportunity to learn about issues related to nutrition and food safety and how they affect successful hospitality and catering operations.
A qualification in Hospitality and Catering will prepare you to become more aware of the skills required to go into Hospitality and catering for large-scale events. In this qualification, learners will also have the opportunity to develop some food preparation and cooking skills as well as transferable skills of problem solving, organisation and time management, planning and communication.

Key Stage 5

Design & Technology: Product Design (AQA)

Students have the opportunity to continue their studies in D&T by opting to study Product Design as a linear A Level.

Course Aims

This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in the creative industries. They will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning into practice by producing products of their choice. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

As 50% of the course is made up of coursework, students who are able to manage their time effectively and have the ability to meet deadlines are much more likely to gain higher marks. The new specifications require an aptitude for maths and science and the transferable skills developed in Product Design are useful on any university course and are highly valued by employers.

Course Structure

Paper 1: Core technical principles and core designing and making principles – (2 hour written exam worth 25%)
Paper 2: Specialist knowledge, technical and designing and making principles – (2 hour written exam 25%)
Non-exam assessment (Coursework): Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles and specialist knowledge. (Substantial design and make task worth 50%)

Super Curriculum

To access the Super Curriculum for this subject please visit the Super Curriculum page HERE