Overview
- Mrs K Andersson (Head of Department)
- Miss Z Cummings
- Mr S McCorry (Technician)
- To give all students the opportunity and confidence to tackle and solve problems which are related to the needs of individuals.
- To encourage the students to question the world about them as well as being able to constructively evaluate their own and other people’s work.
- To create a learning environment where attributes of creativity, equality, co-operation and resourcefulness are developed and the students are interested and actively participate in the project work.
- To build, where possible on the different backgrounds of the individuals in a group and where possible relate work to relevant cultural information.
- For the students to develop an understanding of how they can control products and systems and how the products can be developed further to improve them.
- To encourage and make students aware of the similarities and differences between school and the world of work.
- To encourage and open minded and investigative approach when tackling problems.
- To encourage clear communication techniques, whether oral, written, or in a graphical form.
- To encourage co-operation and the social skills needed when working in a team in a problem solving activity. The students should be able to work as individuals when the need arises.
- To build and establish good working practices and an understanding of technical concepts and systems and their safe application.
- To foster appropriate cross-curricular links where possible.
- To encourage the use of ICT as a means of communication, and as a learning and design tool.
Key Stage 3
Technology & Design
Key Stage 3
Technology and Design is a compulsory subject throughout Years 8 to 10. All students have 2 periods of Technology and Design per week. Our aim is to develop in pupils an ability and confidence to design, develop and manufacture their own ideas into a working product.
The units of work undertaken in Junior School are designed to reflect and fulfil the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 3. Each unit is presented through a design brief. Students will be given a set of learning intentions. The end result of each unit will be a manufactured product, a portfolio of theory, design work and presentation drawings.
Year 8
Unit 1 – Fuse Bug (Electronics)
Unit 2 – Graphics (Rendering)
Unit 3 – Wooden Moving Toy (Mechanisms)
Year 9
Unit 1 – Graphics (Orthographic Projection)
Unit 2 – Reaction Timer Game (Electronics and Microelectronics)
Unit 3 – Thermometer (CAD/CAM)
Unit 4 – Careers (CEIAG)
Year 10
Unit 1 – Product Design (Research & Design)
Unit 2 –Nightlight (Electronics)
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GCSE
- Year 11: Unit 1 - Exam 25% of GCSE Technology and Design Core Content
- Year 12: Unit 2 - Exam 25% of GCSE Optional Area of Study: Electronic and Microelectronic Control Systems
- Jan Y11- March Y12: Unit 3 – Coursework 50% of GCSE Design and Manufacturing Project
- GCSE Technology Specification
Examples of GCSE Work
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AS/A2
Technology & Design
AS/A2
Introduction
Students will build upon topics covered at GCSE, further developing their knowledge and understanding of products, materials, processing techniques, electronics and programming. Students will investigate, analyse and experiment with ideas through the design and manufacture of products which reflect the theory outlined in the specification. They also refine a wide range of transferable skills such as research/problem solving/decision making/evaluating/time management etc.
The qualification is modular and pupils will gain an AS qualification at the end of Y13.
Structure of Assessment
Year 13 AS:
- AS1 – written exam(2 short papers) 50% of AS 20% of A Level Paper 1 – Design and Materials/Paper 2 –Systems and Control – Electronic and Microelectronic Systems
- AS2 –Coursework 50% of AS 20% of A Level Product Development
Year 14 A2:
- A21 –written exam(2 hour paper) 30% of A Level Systems and Control – Electronic and Microelectronic Systems
- A22 –Coursework 30% of A Level Systems Design and Manufacture
- GCE Technology Specification
Examples of A2 Work
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Extra Curricular work
Technology & Design
Extra-Curricular
The Technology Department offers many opportunities for pupils to experience Technology and Design in the wider world outside of their classroom. This ranges from the award of prestigious scholarships to events for Junior School students.
Arkwright Scholarship
This prestigious scholarship recognises those Y12 students who have an aptitude and flair for engineering disciplines. There is a rigorous awarding process of; application form, aptitude test and interview and only around 400 are awarded throughout the whole of the UK. We have been extremely lucky to have had many students receive this accolade over the years.
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Sentinus Team R&D
We have participated in Sentinus Team R&D for over 20 years. This scheme, aimed at Y13 students gives a team of 4 students the opportunity to work with a company solving a real-life engineering problem. While we have been paired with a variety of organisations over the years, for the past few years we have worked with NIE.
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Young Innovators
Each year we give our senior students the opportunity to showcase their coursework at this competition. We have been very fortunate to have success at this each year, with students winning a range of specialist awards and coming runner-up in their section.
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Build a Plane
Our junior students had the opportunity to work on the shared education project to build a full size aircraft.
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CEIAG
Technology & Design
CEIAG
While we have had past pupils go on to pursue a variety of paths including Law and Nursing, Technology and Design is ideal for design based career paths such as:
- Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
- Product Engineering
- Manufacturing engineering
- Mechatronic Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Architecture
- Animation
- Product Designer
- Graphic Designer
- CAD Designer
- Interior Designer
- Special Effects Designer
- Games Design
- Advertising
- Technology with Design
- Technology and Design Teacher
Past pupils who have gone on to study engineering at university (Mechanical/ Biomedical/ General) have said that out of all the A Level subjects they have undertaken, Technology and Design was by far the best preparation for their course, they are using the digital electronics and the CAD they learnt in AS/A2 and are streets ahead of their peers who did not study Technology and Design for A Level. They have all said that in their opinion, Technology should be listed along with Mathematics as a compulsory subject for all engineering courses.
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