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Technology & Design

Staff

  • Mr D Platt (HOD)
  • Mr A Baird
  • Mr R Berry
  • Mr B Hasson
  • Mrs A McCrudden
  • Mr P Privilege
  • Mrs C Taggart

The world we live in is populated with products, some simple, some complex, which we make use of each day of our lives in a wide range of contexts. We use products to help us in our work, to relax, to communicate with each other and in practically every part of our existence. All of these have had to be designed from an initial idea or developed from an existing idea or product. Every design is influenced by external factors such as consumer demands, human needs, the state of the market, environmental impact, consumer legislation and the design context.  Studying Technology and Design provides opportunities to tackle and resolve design and technological problems to meet human needs in a range of contexts, such as home, school, leisure, community, business and industry.

Key Stage 3

In years 8-10, all students have the opportunity to make 2 practical projects per year. Throughout these projects pupils will study: Health & Safety, Tools and Equipment, Workshop Processes, Resistant Materials, Mechanisms, Electronics, Graphical Communication including Computer Aided Design. Each project follows the design process from problem identification and concept design through to manufacture and evaluation.

We teach various elements of the GCSE specification throughout the Key Stage 3 curriculum. The confidence developed and knowledge gained by pupils during KS3 prepares them for KS4 study within the Technology and Design department.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Technology and Design (Product Design specialism)

GCSE Contemporary Craft

BTEC First Award Engineering

GCSE Occupational Studies: Carpentry & Joinery/Hand Fitting

Through this varied curriculum offer we give pupils the best opportunity to achieve success in a subject best suited to their learning style and career aspirations.

Please see attached link for more information about our various KS4 options here.

Post 16 Study

A Level Technology & Design

At Key Stage 5 students can study CCEA AS and A2 Level Technology and Design (Product Design specialism). At AS Level students must analyse and redesign an existing product.  Throughout this redesign, pupils will make improvements to the original product through research, concept generation and development, modelling and testing.  Students then manufacture their final product in the school workshop and evaluate its performance.

At A2 Level students must identify and solve a real world problem based on client needs.  Studying Technology and Design at A Level will develop skills in problem solving, graphical communication, model making, use of ICT and CAD/CAM, manufacturing techniques and self-evaluation. The skills developed during A Level study can lead to further/higher education courses or careers in a range of areas such as Product Design, Graphic Design, Engineering etc.

Unit Assessment Description Weighting
AS 1: Design and Materials and Product Design External written examinations.

Paper 1: Core area of study Paper 2: Product Design

Each paper is one hour long. There will be a 20 minute break between papers.

50% of AS

20% of A level

AS 2: Product Development Internal controlled assessment.

You will produce a 10 page design folder and a practical outcome.

50% of AS

20% of A level

A2 1: Product Development External written examination.

You will answer two questions on your specialist area of study (Product Design)

The paper is two hours long.

30% of A level
A2 2: Product Design and Manufacture Internal controlled assessment.

You will produce a 20 page design folder and a practical outcome.

30% of A level

Extra-Curricular Activities + Achievements

  • STEM club
  • 2022 ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) CityZen Award
    • Pupils were tasked to think of a local/community problem which may need Civil Engineer intervention then come up with a design proposal including concept designs, scale model and video commentary. The group designed a method of alleviating the traffic congestion problem on Manse road during drop off and pick up times. The group came 3rd in this UK wide competition winning £500, an all-expenses paid trip to London to have lunch with the President of the Institute of Civil Engineers and a tour of their building in Westminster.
  • BelTech OpenDataNI ‘Make it Challenge’
    • Team of 3 students designed a “Health and Wellbeing Map of Belfast” in collaboration with FABLab. The group came 1st winning £2000 prize money.
  • Eco Innovators competition
    • “Design an on-street electric vehicle charge point that is innovative, user friendly, iconic and will fit in with the streetscape of the future”. Pupil placed 5th overall in the UK winning a STEM robotics kit for the school.

Career Pathways

  • Product Designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • User Interface/Experience (UI/UX) Designer
  • Web Designer
  • CAD Engineer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Interior Designer
  • Construction
  • Set Designer for theatre
  • Architecture
  • Teaching