Duchess School

Design and Technology Dept

Design and Technology is a lively and highly successful department that encompasses a variety of subjects.

We believe that through the subjects taught within the department students learn vital life long skills. Design and Technology offers the student the opportunity to explore and to apply their creative talents. All subjects are underpinned by a design process. Exam results in all key stages are good to excellent.

Our Aims:

• To inspire confidence and build self esteem
• To develop the ability to be creative
• To develop working relationships and skills for life
• To open up students minds to possible career paths

Our Vision

Design & Technology should inspire as well as educate

The Department

The Design and Technology Department is geographically split within the Main school site and is divided into two broad curriculum areas.

Students working in textiles

Food and Textile Technology
In 2006 95% of students achieved GCSE grade A*-C in both Food and Textile Technology.
The success of the department lies in the commitment of staff and students alike, high expectations and support for students throughout their time with us, both during lessons and at times during lunch and after school sessions.

Resistant Materials, Graphics and Electronics
Students can opt to work with Wood, Metal and Plastic in addition to materials such as Foam and Card for Graphics and various technical components in Electronics. ICT is a fundamental part of the teaching and learning. The students can develop their own ICT ability through a variety of designing packages some of which lead to the use of ICT as a manufacturing tool.

GCSE students are able to pursue their interests further through AS and A2 level Graphics and Resistant Materials.

Design and Technology students participate in a range of extra-curricular activities with a variety of industrial and other external partners, and students have been very successful in both Regional and National Competitions.

What’s on offer?

Year 9 – runs on a carousel system where students get to spend half a term in each material area, before specialising in year 10.

Years10 & 11 - GCSE Food Technology, Textile Technology, Health & Social Care (Double Award), Child Development, Electronics, Resistant Materials, Graphics.

Non GCSE - Wood & Metal Craft and Young Enterprise.

Years 12 & 13 – AS & A2 level subjects in Food Technology, Textile Technology (Product Design), Health and Social Care, Resistant Materials, and Graphic Products.

Vocational subjects – CACHE level 2 in Child Care and Education