In years 7 and 8 our students move round a series of design and make assignments which are delivered by specialist teachers in specialist rooms. The aim in each project brief is to introduce and develop material specific skills as well as helping each student to learn to apply a creative and analytical approach to problem solving. Every student has access to the full curriculum as they move through the projects, gaining experience and confidence working with the full range of materials. The specific projects we use are reviewed and developed each year, but are generally focussed on the following:

• Food – learning nutrition, healthy diet, safe cooking practices and basic cooking skills.

• Textiles – learning to use a sewing machine accurately and safely as well as developing functional and decorative hand sewing skills to create a marketable functional product.

• Product Design – learning to work accurately with wood using a range of hand and machine tools. Including marking out, drilling, cutting (by hand and with a hegner saw), joining and finishing. They will also use computer aided design and manufacturing skills.

• New Technologies – learning to use CAD, CAM and coding to create high quality interactive products.

• Graphics – learning to present ideas using a range of skills including 2D and 3D sketching and ICT. This is delivered as a strand in every project as well as in a distinct project brief.

At the end of year 8 students make their GCSE option choices which they then follow for 3 years to year 11. As a department we use the AQA exam board qualifications. This is what some of our students think about their Design and technology lessons: “..it’s fun…it’s rewarding…it’s exciting!” “..it enables you to express yourself and to be creative” “Technology lessons are really fun! The projects we do are really interesting. They may be hard work, but it doesn’t feel like it because we all have so much fun doing them and using our creative minds to create something in real life! Best lesson ever!” Within Design and Technology they may choose up to 2 of the following options:

• GCSE Food preparation and nutrition
• GCSE Design and technology, specialising in textiles
• GCSE Design and technology, specialising in product design

2 courses are currently on offer at our shared sixth form, Painsley Sixth Form College.

AQA: A-level Design and Technology:

A-level Design and Technology: Product Design. This course is designed to encourage students to:

• Develop a broad view of design and technology
• Develop their capacity to design and make products
• Appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture and marketing.

In Year 12 students develop an understanding of a broad range of materials, with an emphasis on properties and production processes. This course includes elements of maths and engineering and also considers the broader issues for the designer including the environmental sustainability of products and consumer safety. We teach the course through a series of minor projects which help students build up a wide range of skills to prepare them for the major project in Year 13. In Year 13 students complete a single major project of their own choosing which they see through to the production of a high quality final product. The A2 exam uses short answer and essay style questioning to allow students to show the depth of their understanding on a range of design issues. The course is 50% coursework and 50% exam.

AQA: A level art and design:

Textiles A level textiles is a highly creative course. The main emphasis of this course is the development of design skills working in textiles in a range of materials, including both traditional and non-traditional techniques. Students will have an opportunity to explore decorative and wearable design and ultimately specialise in a certain way of working. As part of the design process students are carefully guided and supported through a range of structured teaching experiences which include drawing, photography, designing, experimentation and manipulation of materials and techniques. Personal responses are positively encouraged and each year results in a rich, varied and ever changing repertoire of work.

Textiles: course content

Year 12

Tutorials: 2 per fortnight, homework deadline. Students will be expected to have prepared work for these tutorials, guidance for work and discussion will be on SMH.  Students will be encouraged to use formal art language and to be rigorous in their investigations. Students will be encouraged to work independently when not being seen. Separate room to make more formal?

Group Crits: 1 per term, students will be asked to present their work and take questions to make them justify and explain their work.

Peer Assessment activity: 1 per term, use current and previous projects to assess against marking criteria to familiarise them with the marking criteria and language used. Students to become familiar with reflecting on their own work and articulating this using language of mark scheme. Focus on understanding the requirements of their target grade and how to move towards it. Students to complete a preform which will include one of the AOs which students will highlight and annotate. Also used to identify targets.

Homework tasks: In accordance with homework policy, to be handed in during tutorial time where verbal and written feedback will be provided. Grading policy will be updated when we are more aware of how work should be assessed. Will include practical tasks and tasks to prepare students for Personal Investigation project. Students will be given a question/image/stimulus/article which they have to write a certain number of words discussion on to be submitted, potentially to be discussed to the group.

Literacy : Encouraging use of formal language especially during tutorials. Literacy based tasks as mentioned above to prepare students for Personal Investigation project.

Structure of course:

YEAR 12- Theme given

Term 1 (AO1, AO2 and AO3): Drawing- Observational studies, experimental drawing, drawing tools, mark-making, develop drawing techniques in a range of materials, photography, drawing with stitch. Reference to artists and designers. Gaining familiarity with drawing, materials, techniques and processes. Research- Students to also develop their research skills to identify and select artists and designers to research, research skills, presentation skills, literacy and critical thinking skills.

Term 2 (AO2 and AO4): Further exploration of using materials, techniques and process. Students to become familiar with how to experiment with and refine use of materials and techniques. Students to plan, develop and create a final outcome for the theme based on their preparatory work.

Term 3 Personal Investigation:  Students to identify an area of focus for their Personal Investigation project and start to research. Initial stage to be completed in Year 12, identifying area of interest, starting to identify and investigate relevant artists and designers. Students encouraged to complete independent research visits and explore the topic independently.

Trips and Visits: New Designers, Barcelona, Present Screen printing workshop at Spode.

Yr 13

Personal Investigation continues Term 1:  Students to identify an area of focus for their Personal Investigation project and start to research. Students are asked to identify an area of interest, starting to identify and investigate relevant artists and designers. Students encouraged to complete independent research visits and explore the topic independently.

Term 2: External set assessment

Student are asked to prepare for a 15 hour exam which they complete in May. They are given the option of 8 different questions in which to respond to. Using all their skills and knowledge of art textiles students gather and explore a range of techniques and mediums in response to their chosen question.

Encouraging your child to cook, sew and help with practical activities will be a huge help to them in developing their practical skills. It will also give them a wider experience of materials and processes to help them deepen their understanding. Discussing their design ideas with them will also help them to gain a better understanding of what they are doing and how it can be improved. Understanding and predicting how good an idea could be and considering different ways to improve it is a key skill that children usually find very difficult. Onshape is a free online CAD package that we use later in school with many tutorial videos on Youtube.