Design and Technology

Design & Technology at Goffs

Design and technology is about inventing practical solutions to problems through imaginative thinking. Learners use a range of tools, materials, skills and techniques to explore, design and make products and systems that meet human needs. Working in stimulating contexts they engage in a continuous course of personal development, learning to use today's technologies so they can participate in developing tomorrow's.

In D and T at Goffs we aim to provide all pupils with a stimulating ‘hands on’ experience of a wide range of D and T materials and skills.  Each pupil is encouraged to develop their talents and achieve their potential in a safe and supportive environment.

The staff work closely as a team, meeting regularly to develop relevant courses and skills which meet the needs of our students.

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Year 7 & Year 8 Students have one lesson per fortnight in either Food, Product Design or Textiles. In Year 7 they will study one of the above disciplines, and in Year 8 wil have the option to re-opt for another. Students also have one period of Technology Skills on their timetable, where they will learn core technical skills needed across the disciplines.

Key Stage 4 - Year 9 to Year 11

GCSE courses are offered in each technology; please see individual subject tab

Year 12 & Year 13

We run A level  ‘Product Design’ and ‘Textiles’ courses. These are popular with excellent results & many of our students go on to study Design courses at University.

Each material area has prefects who play an important role in the smooth running of the department, helping out in lower school lessons, preparing resources and mentoring individual GCSE pupils.

Keystage-3-Year-7.pdf

Keystage-3-Year-8.pdf

Keystage-3-Year-9.pdf

keystage-4-Yr-10-11.pdf

Keystage-5-A-level.pdf

 

The Fashion & Textiles department is well equipped with a range of machines, printing presses and PCs.

PCs are connected to the school network and the Internet giving pupils easy access for any related research and design work needed to produce their work.

Textiles students are positively encouraged to spend some of their study time in the department.

Key Stage 3

Year 7-9 students have the opportunity to learn a vast range of Textiles based skills such as; dyeing & printing, computerised embroidery & applique.

Years 7/8 rotate once a term and have the opportunity to respond to open ended briefs to create an original and creative product.

Key Stage 4

Year 10- Edexcel (Pearson) Design and Technology (Textiles focused) 4 lessons a fortnight

Students will complete a mock NEA (worth 50% of the GCSE) and choose from one of 3 tasks.

Students are required to produce a portfolio and final prototype which meets the assessment criteria laid out by the exam board. It is important that students bring their A3 portfolio to every lesson and have access
to creative materials such as colouring pencils, watercolours and/ or colouring pens (e.g. Winsor & Newton Brushmarker).

Once a fortnight students will be a taught a theory lesson which will cover component 1 (1DT0/1E – Textiles.
A link to the exam board specification can be found here; https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/design-and-technology/2017/specification-and-sample-assessments/Specification-GCSE-L1-L2-in-Design-and-Technology.pdf

Year 11- Edexcel (Pearson) Design and Technology (Textiles focused) 5 lessons a fortnight

NEA component is released by the exam board on 1^st June every year and is worth 50% of the total GCSE. Students must work exclusively independently to create a product which solves the problem to one of the questions chosen. Students have access to exemplar materials to help guide them along.
 

Key stage 5

Year 12- AQA Design and Technology: Fashion and Textiles (linear) 8 lessons a fortnight

Students complete a range of technical and decorative skills

This enjoyable course can lead to a wide range of career opportunities such as Fashion Design, Science and Technology and Marketing and Advertising in the Textiles industry. Students find this course is a good foundation for A’ Level Textiles Technology. Many of our students go on to secure places at the top Universities in the UK & EIRE.
 

GCSE Pupil questionnaire comments

‘Good teacher support’ 
‘Felt able to ask for help and gained confidence’ 
‘Can work more independently now’ 
‘Had lots of fun but still work hard’
‘The deadlines set helped throughout the coursework’

 

Specification-GCSE-L1-L2-in-Design-and-Technology-3.pdf

SAMs-GCSE-L1-L2-in-Design-and-Technology-1.pdf
NEA-exemplar-materials-GCSE-1.pdf

 

Year 7 Graphic communication

12- 13 lessons

Key skills are built into lessons including;

• Using formal elements & design principals to formulate ideas

• Hand and digital media design ideas

• Typography skills

By the end of the rotation students should have created a poster for a current or past exhibition for the 'Museum of brands'. 
 

Year 8 Graphic communication

12- 13 lessons

Key skills are built into lessons including;

• Using formal elements & design principals to formulate ideas

• Hand and digital media design ideas

• Typography skills

By the end of the rotation students should have created a magazine cover for a graphic design cover

Year 9 Graphic communication

Students have 1 lesson a week for the academic year 

Key skills are built into lessons including;

• Using formal elements & design principals to formulate ideas

• Hand and digital media design ideas

• Typography skills

Term 1:

Students research into different brands and critically evaluate their sustainability and fair trade credentials. 

By the end of the term, students should then choose 1 of these brands and develop a re- branding strategy which will culminate in an advert or packaging 

Term 2:

By the end of the term students should have created a poster for a current or past exhibition for the 'Museum of brands'. 

Term 3:

By the end of the term students should have created a magazine cover for a graphic design cover