DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY AT PRINCE HENRY’S

Welcome to the Design and Technology Department. These pages will give you a brief insight into the many varied areas which are Design and Technology at Prince Henry’s.

We are a very successful and vibrant team of teachers accommodated in the Design and Technology block. Our main aim is to encourage and foster good design and manufacture, of quality solutions to problems within the full range of materials in the department. These areas are:

• Electronics
• Food Technology
• Product Design
  Resistant Materials
• Textiles

A very important element of each of our areas is the use of ICT, incorporating computer aided design and manufacture, CAD/CAM.

As a foundation National Curriculum subject at Key Stage 3 and optional at Key Stages 4&5, the students are required to apply knowledge and skills from a wide range of subjects in order to solve practical problems.

Design and Technology focuses equally on how students learn as well as what they learn. The capabilities of investigating, designing, making and appraising are just as important as acquiring knowledge. Design and Technology provides a balance in the Curriculum in which the creative and practical abilities of students can be fully developed and interrelated.

Key stage 3

Years 7-9 are taught in two mini schools, five groups in each mini school, for three periods per week. The students are given the opportunity to experience as wide a range as possible including Textiles, Graphic media (such as paper, paint, photographs and digital images); Construction materials (wood, plastic and metal) and Food, along with specialist applications of ICT, CAD/CAM and Electronics. Examples of these can be found using the links.

Key stage 4

The opportunity for students to continue their studies from Key Stage 3 through to GCSE is available in the following AQA exams

• Food Technology
• Product design
• Resistant materials
• Textiles

The department has an excellent record of high achievement within all these materials areas. A wide range of Design and Make activities are undertaken by students and underpinned by a sound understanding of both designing and manufacturing. Examples of the outcomes can be found using links provided.

Key stage 5

Product Design 3D and Product Design Textiles are the two AQA exam courses available at AS and A2 with students achieving excellent results in both. We encourage these students to exhibit their work and participate in national competitions such as Audi Young Designer of Year. Many of the students continue onto university to courses and careers in the many facets of Product Design, Fashion and Textiles.