Design and Technology encourages students to think creatively, acquire key skills and solve problems by developing practical solutions. They learn to make informed healthy choices considering the needs and beliefs of others and are encouraged to understand how the products they make impact the world both physically and ethically.
It is our intention that students grow creatively and academically throughout their learning journey in DT. We will achieve this by continually developing a learning environment where pupils feel confident to take risks and are not afraid to make mistakes, and where their efforts are celebrated and rewarded. We strive to create learners who are motivated and enjoy their lessons and who appreciate that through engaging with the subject they can quite literally make their world a better place.
Key stage 3 is taught as a carousel of subjects comprising Food, Textiles and Resistant Materials.
Students spend a term in each subject in years 7, 8 and 9.
There is a focus on sustainability, origins of ingredients and materials and our impact on the environment. All of these are considered within the context of designing and making tasks relevant to the specialist area that the students are working in.
At key stage 4 students can opt to study GCSE Design and Technology and/or GCSE Food and Nutrition. Both courses are delivered through a combination of theory and practical lessons and both are assessed through a 50% non-examined assessment element and through a written exam worth 50%. Students acquire subject knowledge and practical skills needed to confidently participate in an increasingly technological world.
Catholic Social Teaching
We encourage all students to take responsibility and to actively participate in learning about sustainability and our impact on the environment. Students are taught about sources and origins of ingredients and materials and the benefits of healthy lifestyles so that they can make informed choices that put care for creation at the centre of their learning.
They learn to make informed choices and consider the needs and beliefs and values of others. All of this is considered within the context of designing and making tasks relevant to the specialist area that the students are working in, be that Food, Textiles or DT in the workshop.
We teach about a shared responsibility to design and make products that have a positive impact on our world. We believe that this important principle should underpin everything we do so that pupils understand how their actions impact local and global communities.
Design and Technology at St Bede’s enables students to engage fully with our GRITTY curriculum. By encouraging them to think creatively to solve problems we are developing their Growth Mindset.
The learning environment within Design and Technology encourages pupils to develop resilience. Pupils feel confident to take risks and are not afraid to make mistakes, knowing that this is part of the learning process.
Through active participation in Food and DT lessons, students learn to work independently, acquiring a range of subject knowledge and developing creative, technical and practical skills needed to confidently participate in an increasingly technological world.
Design projects can stretch over several weeks and pupils will encounter setbacks on the way. A high level of tenacity is often required to reach a successful outcome.
Design and Technology is transformational on many levels. Not only do pupils transform raw materials into useful products during their practical lessons but they also learn how Design and Technology has transformed and continues to transform the world and how we interact with it.
Students are encouraged to understand how the products they make impact their world both physically and ethically. We strive to create learners who are motivated and enjoy their lessons and who appreciate that through engaging with the subject they can quite literally make their world a better place.
Lunchtime club on a Wednesday in the workshop – see Mr Gibson.
“Master-chef of the moment” competition – see Mrs Wainright or Mrs Morris for details.
