Design & Technology

Ethos: Design and Technology aims to develop students into creative thinkers who can independently analyse each stage of the design process to maximise the student's ability to problem solve and to think outside the box when finding a realistic design solution.

Intent: At KS3 students are shown how to design and make products of value. Students will understand that through pride of work, prolonged focus, attention to detail and practice they will be able to produce a functional design solution which considers the needs and wants of the intended user.

Contained within the range of extremely popular and successful subjects comprising the Art, Design and Technology Faculty at Kingsdale, Design and Technology as a standalone subject at Kingsdale is taught by a dynamic team from a variety of professional Design backgrounds with a long history of teaching. Right from the start, Design & Technology students are not only taught to be inquisitive, creative and to design and manufacture outcomes using a selection of materials, tools, and processes, but are trained to select and apply higher-order thinking skills to identify design problems and develop and create functional product solutions.

The Design and Technology department also aims to develop transferrable skills used across many disciplines in the modern world, both in and out of design fields. It teaches project and time management, teamwork, the importance of collaboration and the importance of failure and commitment. A completed project will offer a sense of achievement, pride, and confidence as well as a unique achievement to set them apart from other students.

GCSE students use an iterative approach using analytical and evaluative skills. Students combine general knowledge, their grasp of the world around them, new concepts taught through the Design and Technology Curriculum (sustainability, new and emerging technologies, energy, systems, and controls) with their knowledge of materials, processes, and design limitations to inform their own choices, ideas, and design outcomes.

Overall, in Design & Technology, students experience the core understanding of textiles, metal, polymers, paper board, systems and control and timber using traditional and modern equipment and processes. At Kingsdale the workshop facilities allow the students to mix their manufacturing skills using the fully equipped traditional workshop using timber, metal and polymer tools and processes together with a Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing Studio which offers specialist CAD/CAM equipment, including a laser cutter, a vinyl cutter and CNC speed routers and a 3D printer.