Department rationale:

Design and Technology prepares students to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies. Students learn to think and intervene to improve the quality of life, now and for the future. The subject calls for students to become problem solvers, think creatively, be resilient, and work independently and as part of teams. Students must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing ideas and making products. They learn to combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practises. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past designs and its uses and effects. Through design and technology, all students can become discriminating and informed users of products, and become innovators.

Our world is changing fast and we need to inspire the designers and innovators of tomorrow. AT ECC we value the contribution that Design Technology has on students' lives, both currently and their future lives. It is important to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make informed decisions. From what they choose to eat and the impact it has on their bodies, health and environment to what impact the choices, they make, the clothes and products they buy have on the environment and community, both locally and worldwide. Design Technology plays a significant role in the development of our students. It teaches them transferable skills such as resilience, teamwork, innovation, communication skills, as well as equips them to be able to make informed choices in their daily lives.

What does Design Technology look like at Exmouth Community College?

The Design Technology department have high aspirations for all of our students, and the curriculum is both challenging and engaging and takes into account students starting points from the wide range of feeder schools that join us in Yr 7. All teachers are made aware of any disadvantaged pupils on the DT department tracking sheets and class lists, all teachers are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that any obstacles to learning are removed. The department supports the needs of all pupils regardless of any potential barriers as we believe in ‘success for all’. Close tracking of all pupils continues to be an intrinsic part of our monitoring in DT to ensure all pupils progress is regularly reviewed and intervened/supported where appropriate.

As a department we focus at KS3 on embedding the core knowledge and skills needed to become well informed, creative, risk taking students, that are able to analyse, evaluate, design and discuss their ideas. We offer a creative curriculum that engages students with practical tasks. These tasks specifically serve identified needs, solve problems - and function, it is considered essential that these learning activities reflect the nature of the subject within a range of contexts. These include the world of work, the development of communities and society, the environment (sustainability impact) and the ways in which technologies or technological solutions address or affect these.

The DT curriculum reflects the local (East Devon) context by addressing potential gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills, thereby ensuring they can contribute to requirements at local businesses especially those in the leisure and tourism sector and hospitality and catering. We make links with local employers to offer students the opportunity to design for real contexts and environments.

At the very core of the department are our core values of sustainability and community. Our coastal location is reflected in our values, through our teaching of sustainability and environmental impact of the design choices we make. Students are taught from Yr7 through to Yr13 the importance of sustainability and the impact of their decisions on themselves and the wider community.

How do we assess in Design Technology?

As a Design Technology department, we aim to ensure all students receive a fully inclusive curriculum. Where each student is able to develop their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Throughout the KS3 curriculum we ensure students have the opportunity to work in a variety of material areas including CAD/CAM/Design Technology/ Engineering/ Food & Nutrition/ Graphics/ Textiles. Students are taught to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative and enterprising students. At KS3 we assess through the following strands Evaluation/Designing/Making/Knowledge. At KS4 & 5 students are assessed according to the exam board criteria for their courses.

At Keystage 4 (Years 10 and 11) and Keystage 5 (Years 12 and 13) students can opt from the following courses:

GCSE:

• Art & Design: Graphics
• Art and Design: Textiles
• Design Technology
• Food & Nutrition.
• Level 2 Engineering.

A Level:

• Art & Design: Graphics
• Art & Design: Textiles
• Art & Design:3D (Sept 2022)
• Product Design.
• Level 2 Engineering 
• A Level Food science & Nutrition (Sept 2022)

In KS4 we offer a comprehensive selection of L2 subjects: