Overview
Students studying Design and Technology at St Marylebone are introduced to key skills linked to the design of products in a wide range of material areas. They learn to use tools and equipment safely from hand tools to computer-aided design and manufacture. Students are encouraged to problem solve in a practical way, looking for solutions to problems in real-world situations, engaging with users to meet the needs of diverse and inclusive target groups. In each project, DT students develop their curiosity and understanding through researching and exploring existing products and situations. They learn design strategies to apply their creativity and develop their ideas through feedback, testing and modelling. The excellent resources in the workshop, textiles and graphics rooms offer the students an opportunity to refine their skills through each project they complete. They work with wood, metals, plastics, electronics, textiles and graphic products. They earn the importance of sustainability in design and apply it to choices they make about their work.
Key Stage 3. Years 7-9
In KS3 students gain a range of practical skills using hand and machine tools safely in the different material areas. Starting in Y7, projects focus on developing design skills to reflect the needs of users and teach a variety of strategies to develop their creativity in response to a design brief. Through feedback and evaluation our students become progressively more independent in their application of the core skills they learn through focused practical tasks to become creative problem solvers who can investigate their own and others ideas. These skills are taken through to KS4 where they can use them to design innovative solutions to real-world problems and demonstrate an understanding of Design and Technology in the wider world.
Key Stage 4 GCSE. Years 10-11
Exam Board: Edexcel
Final Grade: Grades 1-9
Structure of Assessment:
Component 1 – 50% GCSE, Exam, 100 marks, 1hour 45 minutes
Component 2 – 50% GCSE, NEA, Coursework, 100 marks
Why Choose GCSE Design and Technology?
GCSE Design & Technology is a new GCSE combining Graphics and Product Design. It provides students with the perfect opportunity to create, design, and make beautiful graphic and product designs. The subjects already overlap extensively, so students will continue to be able to pursue either a graphic or a product solution, with a broader choice of design opportunities and experiences in the course. They can invent, play and experiment. They will be taught skills to develop their own style and create beautifully crafted concepts and prototypes that solve commercial problems in a real-life context.
GCSE Design and Technology provides students with:
- An opportunity to think and explore their own creativity to solve a real-life situation.
- A chance to develop their presentation and drawing skills, using both hand-rendered and computer skills to create professional design pages.
- A chance to challenge and stretch their presentation, tool and machine skills as well as to learn new techniques including, CADCAM, computer modelling and 3D printing and prototyping.
- An opportunity to develop creative skills that can aid and assist them across all their subjects.
- GCSE Design & Technology also provides students with an excellent start to a broad range of careers such as STEM subjects, Engineering, Product Design, Graphic Design, Set Design, Interior Design, Automotive Design, Advertising, Website Design, and Architecture.
Come and join us!
Course Content
YEAR 10 – 11:
Component 1 – Exam
Section A – Core Content (40 marks) – Core topics include; taking products to market and building a successful business; new technologies, for example, 3D printing; ethics; our environment and how, as future designers, we can minimise damage as well as considering our society and wider cultures.
Section B – Material Categories (60 marks) – Students choose their preferred material eg. paper and card for graphics and, answer questions showing their specialist knowledge of the material area.
The exam is taken at the end of Year 11.
Component 2 – This is a non-exam assessment (NEA).
This coursework aims to develop a student’s individual, innovative and creative response to a contextual challenge using drawing skills and encouraging modelling and evaluating resulting in a design portfolio and the making of a quality prototype product. Graphic products are normally made from paper, cards and plastics, and can be such things as 2D posters and adverts, business cards, ticket design, Business cards, food packaging and 3D sale displays. Products can be made from paper, cards and plastics but also could include wood, metal and textiles. They could be lights, furniture, display, games and toys to name but a few.
Food Preparation and Nutrition Overview
Within the umbrella of Design and Technology, students also study Food and Nutrition. As with DT, they are introduced to key technical skills, safety in the food room and theory linked to healthy eating and sustainability. Our students understand the impact of food sourcing, preparation and consumption globally on their own and others well being. They engage with their users and understand how to meet the needs of diverse and inclusive user groups and the cultural impact of food. We are constantly developing our resources in the food room to help students address and understand sustainability in the choices they make as consumers and makers.
Key Stage 3. Years 7-9
In KS3 students gain a range of practical skills using equipment safely in the food room. They learn about the importance of good hygiene and a healthy diet. Starting in Y7, projects focus on developing technical skills through focused practicals and also address the scientific aspects of food, important for the GCSE. Through feedback and evaluation, our students become progressively more independent, able to develop their dishes using their skills in preparation for KS4.
Key Stage 4 GCSE. Years 10-11
Exam Board: Eduqas – WJEC
Final Grade: Grades 1-9
Structure of Assessment
50% Coursework: The Food Investigation Assessment:
A scientific food investigation that will assess your knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to scientific principles underlying the preparation and cooking of food.
50% Exam: The Food Preparation Assessment:
Prepare, cook and present a menu that assesses your knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking and presentation of food.
Why Choose GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition?
Are you the next Mary Berry or Paul Hollywood?
D&T Food Preparation and Nutrition stimulates creativity, innovation and it is interesting and enjoyable. It is a popular choice because the practical element of the subject provides students with valuable skills and gives an insight into developments in contemporary food in a changing and multi-cultural society.
The course also prepares students for potential careers in the expanding commercial food and catering industries.
The GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is a new specification for 2016 to replace GCSE Catering. It was developed in collaboration with the British Nutrition Foundation and offers a unique opportunity for candidates to develop practical cooking skills as well as more theoretical knowledge of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It is a suitable qualification for those who want a broad background in food and for those who wish to progress to further education in the areas of food science.
The specification encourages the investigation and study of food and nutrition in six contexts:
Food commodities; Principles of nutrition; Diet and good health; The science of food; Where food comes from; Cooking and food preparation. It uses a range of assessment techniques to enable the candidate to respond through practical and investigative work.
Course Content
The course will take you into the world of Food and Nutrition. You will acquire knowledge through both practical and theory lessons which will equip you to carry out two assessed tasks throughout the two-year course. You will master an array of skills such as making cakes, pastry, bread, and pasta and will investigate various cooking methods. You will be planning, cooking, presenting and evaluating in all aspects of the course.
