It is the intention of the department to provide pupils with the opportunity to discover the pleasure and importance of designing and making using a wide variety of resources and materials. We hope that learning will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Some tasks will be challenging and stimulating and we aim to establish a culture of success where every student is valued for their contribution.

We aim to encourage the students to:

• be responsible for themselves, their environment and the care of others
• develop an awareness and capability of designing and manufacturing
• identify opportunities for design and technological activities with reference to personal needs and the needs of others
• work together and independently in solving problems and finding possible solutions
• develop and apply knowledge, skills and understanding
• apply the design process
• apply their ideas effectively and safely
• consider the effects and implications of design and technological activity on the environment and society
• develop practical abilities
  

In addition to this the department’s objectives, consistent with the school’s general objectives are:

• to communicate using the spoken word, in writing and using graphics
• to apply numeracy in line with the school numeracy policy
• to apply literacy in line with the school literacy policy
• to give pupils a degree of self confidence and self-esteem
• to promote creativity and inventiveness
• to utilise Information and Communication Technology
• to work in a range of resistant and non-resistant materials such as  wood, metal, plastic, food, and textiles to develop products, systems and environments to select and use a range of tools and equipment and apply relevant techniques and processes

 To enable the curriculum area to achieve its aims, the curriculum is organised into three main areas: food, textiles, and product design (commonly known as resistant materials).

Organisation of the Curriculum at KS3

Students spend one and a half terms (about 20 weeks) in each of the three areas mentioned above. All lessons are one hour in length.