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St Augustine's Catholic College

Design & Technology

Here in Design and Technology, we take great pride in giving our students access to a range of different experiences and an opportunity to show off their creative side. As a department, we enjoy encouraging our students to test out their ideas, see what works, what doesn’t and try to improve them. It is a pleasure to see students using a range of equipment and processes to make their own ideas come to life. The pride and sense of achievement felt by students when they have made their own hat or cooked their first meal, is always a joy.

In Key Stage 3 students move around the different material areas in Design and Technology, getting to experience the workshop, cooking facilities and specialist textiles and graphics rooms. In Key Stage 4, students choose an area they are more interested in and can learn to use more complex equipment and processes to make their dishes or prototypes from given contexts. At A Level, students become increasingly independent as they work on projects of their choice and find solutions to problems which they have investigated. In all years, we encourage students to pursue their talents and interests.

We give our students the opportunity to see a practical application for many other subjects. Students use their maths skills to work out sizes for their prototypes, weighing ingredients and much more. We look at where materials and food have come from, how we use the materials and the impact this has on the environment and society. We look to the past to see how designers and design movements have influenced what has happened to design and then use this to inspire our own work.

Studying Design and Technology allows you to develop many skills looked for by employers such as practical skills, developing your decision making and complex problem-solving skills. You get to work in both teams and alone to show your understanding on a range of topics. Students develop their own design and presentation style as they present their work in a portfolio.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Unit 1: Food

  • Food hygiene and basic cooking skills

  • Make a range of dishes such as savoury bites, fruit scones and pizza

Unit 2: Graphics

  • Design and make a new sweet packaging, using graphic skills

Unit 3: Textiles

  • Design and make a hat to introduce pattern making and the sewing machine

  • Anthropometrics

  • Zero waste

Unit 4: Product Design

  • Make a BlockBot as an introduction to the workshop, hand tools and machinery

  • Techniques include lap joint and 3D CAD drawings

Year 8

Unit 1: Food

  • Explore Cultural cuisine

  • Make a range of dishes including fruit pie, pasta bake and strawberry roulade.

Unit 2: Graphics

  • Design and make a mechanical toy using levers

  • Use of CAM and mechanisms

Unit 3: Textiles

  • Tie and dye workshop, learning fastening methods, tie and dye techniques and applique

  • Create your own mini cushion and t-shirt to wear

Unit 4: Product Design

  • Design and make a mood-light

  • Learning how to solder a circuit and use more hand tools and machinery

Year 9

Unit 1: Food

  • Make a range of dishes with higher level skills such as lasagne, calzone, Victoria sponge cake

  • Function of ingredients and the science behind it

  • Scientific, nutritional and aesthetic function of ingredients

Unit 2: Graphics

  • Design and make resin cast jewellery

  • Learn about relevant designers, different cultures and polymers
  • Use of mould making, CAD drawing

Unit 3: Textiles

  • Printing workshop learning a range of printing techniques such as screen printing, block printing, batik and die-sublimation

  • Create something of your choice, using these techniques

  • Learn about industrial methods such as quality control

Unit 4: Product Design

  • Design and make a memo-clip using CAD and lamination, followed by a mini easel using templates and finger joints

  • Learn how to finish polymers and timbers

  • Learn about Production Aids, Forces and Stresses.

GCSE Product Design

Why study GCSE Design & Technology (Product Design)?

The design industry is booming. In fact, jobs in this sector were up a massive 43% last year. Research reveals that the most desired job titles across the country are: graphic designer, designer, photographer, interior designer, and product designer.

GCSE Design & Technology (Product Design) will prepare you to participate confidently and successfully in our creative technological world. The GCSE allows you to study a broad range of materials, techniques and equipment through the design process. You will gain specialist knowledge of designing and will develop knowledge gained at Key Stage 3 in Graphics, Electronics, Textiles, Resistant Materials and CAD/CAM. Design & Technology is a key STEM (Science, Technology & Maths) subject and is the practical application of Maths and Science in the marketplace. You will be at the forefront of the UK Government’s push for the development of the British economy through Design and Manufacturing.

Course Overview

The final mark for the GCSE consists of 2 elements:

  • A Design and Make coursework task which gives you the opportunity to explore and demonstrate your own creativity whilst designing and making your chosen product. You complete a folder of approximately 25 pages showing the product’s development. Students will be given contexts to help them identify and solve real-world problems.

  • Final written exam – a mixture of multiple-choice, short answer questions and some extended response questions, assessing technical knowledge, understanding of design principles, properties of materials and methods of manufacture.

Students will have the opportunity to specialise in Resistant Materials or Graphics within the course.

Course Assessment

Non-exam Assessment (Coursework project) – 50%

Written exam – 50%

Career Development

  • You will develop skills that will be essential for many different career paths: analytical thinking, creative thinking, problem-solving, resilience, project management and communication skills.

  • Product Design is an excellent course for students wishing to follow university courses requiring analytical and critical thinking skills.

  • Product Design links particularly well with university courses in Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Product & Industrial Design, Graphic Design and Advertising.

GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition

GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition is an exciting GCSE course, with the aim of teaching you all about food in its widest sense. The course helps you to learn and develop a wide range of food preparation skills.

It has been developed to help you understand:

  • What food is composed of, why we need it and how it affects our long-term health

  • How food can be prepared and cooked skilfully and safely to produce delicious and nutritious meals for different people and situations

  • What happens to the ingredients in food when you prepare and cook them

  • Which foods different cultures eat throughout the world

  • How food choices people make affect the health and well-being of themselves, their families and the people who produce the food

During Year 10, students develop a range of skills and techniques to cover theory content through a practical application as much as possible such as bread making, pastry and sauces. Students will explore the scientific reason behind the functional properties of food. This will provide the basis of skills and knowledge needed for you to take on the independent NEA projects in Year 11. Here, you will conduct a Food Science Investigation and then a Food Preparation Assessment, where you will plan and make 3 dishes.

Course Overview

The final mark of the GCSE consists of 3 elements:

  • Final written exam: A mixture of multiple-choice questions, followed by a mix of short and longer answer questions

  • NEA 1- Task 1 Food investigation: This will assess students’ understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. This is presented in the form of a written report, with photographic evidence of practical investigations.

  • NEA 2- Task 2 Food preparation assessment: This will assess students’ knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation of food and application of nutrition related to the chosen task. Students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes over no more than 3 hours, planning in advance how this will be achieved. This will be presented as a portfolio of work, including photographic evidence of their final dishes.

Course Assessment

Non-examined assessment (NEA) Task 1- 15%, Task 2- 35% = 50%

Final exam 50%

Career Development

Upon completion of this course, students will be qualified to go on to further study or embark on an apprenticeship or a full-time career in the catering or food industries. The Food Industry is one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. In fact, over 20% of the top 100 British Companies are in food manufacturing.

The food and drink industry is expanding year on year, with current employment reaching 650,000 people and an annual turnover of £66 billion. The opportunities to work within the food industry really are endless. The food industry contains many multinational companies with consequent opportunities for travel or work abroad.

Examples of careers in food include: dietician/nutritionist, food sales and promotion, product development, consumer technologist, chef, baker, food journalist, food critic, health and safety inspector, food service management, purchaser.

A Level

A Level Product Design

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