Topics/Skills Taught
Year 7
Textiles – Wall hanging storage Project
Students design and make a wall hanging storage product based on a theme of their choice. They develop skills in appliqué, hand embroidery and sewing machine techniques. Students also explore CAD/CAM to add personalised text and details to their designs, combining traditional textile skills with modern technology.
D&T Key Skills Project
Students learn the theory and principles of structures and forces before applying this knowledge to design, make and test their own bridge structures. Sustainability is also explored through environmental issues and includes a wind turbine challenge. Students also develop essential design communication skills, including colour theory, hand rendering, accurate measuring and scale, typography, two-point perspective and isometric drawing.
Graphics - Thermometer Project
Students use Smart materials and Publisher to design and make a thermometer and packaging for a specific target market. Students also learn about forces and structures and in groups, design, make and destroy a bridge.
Year 8
Clock Project
Students use artistic movements to inspire a clock design which is then fabricated from plywood. A working clock mechanism is then inserted into the product to complete the design.
Food – Cooking Across the Seasons
Students study topics including healthy eating, food hygiene and safety, food waste before going on to produce a range of dishes which use a variety of skills and techniques. Dishes include pizza, chilli con carne, savoury scones, cheesecake and fruity muffins.
Engineering - Light Project, Mechanisms design and SolidWorks keyring.
Students develop practical engineering, design and manufacturing skills through a range of exciting projects. They manufacture a pine box, create an acrylic design using CAD and a laser cutter, and build and solder a colour-changing LED circuit to produce a backlit light.
Students also explore motion and mechanisms through the design of a children’s toy, developing their understanding of how mechanical systems work. As an introduction to SolidWorks and 3D printing, students design and manufacture a personalised keyring, building their confidence in 3D CAD and digital manufacturing.
Year 9
Food - Foods From Around the World
Students look at different cultures from around the world and their staple diets to create a cultural food project. Dishes include paella, curry, quiche and lasagne. As part of their Cultural Food Research Project students have the freedom to select their own dish from their chosen culture.
Textiles - Pyjama Project
Students design and make a pair of pyjama bottoms, developing their understanding of accurate pattern layout and more advanced sewing machine skills. They also use CAD/CAM to design a coordinating logo or image, which they vinyl cut and heat press onto a T-shirt to create a complementary sleepwear set.
Resistant Materials – Mini storage box Project
Students design and make a mini storage box, developing practical woodworking skills and learning to construct lap and finger joints. They use jigs to accurately create a dowel hinge and explore CAD/CAM to design an image that is laser cut from acrylic and used to decorate the lid of their box.
Engineering - Design Engineering Challenge and 3D printed phone stand
Students undertake a Design Challenge that develops their research, problem-solving and design skills. They recap their knowledge of soldering, components and mechanisms, while learning to design and simulate more complex electronic circuits using Circuit Wizard and consider the needs of a primary user.
Students further develop their SolidWorks and 3D CAD skills by designing and 3D printing a functional phone stand, applying their digital design skills to a practical product.
Extra – Curricular Opportunities
Partnership and visit to The School of Artisan Food
