Aiming High

Technology

Curriculum Intent

The Technology department aims to develop a curriculum which:

• Allows students to experience a wide range of skills, materials and techniques.
• Encourages students to be inspired by what has gone beforehand and develop a curiosity to learn and explore.
• Enables students to refine practical skills to take them into the future.
• Provides an opportunity to become independent learners and problem solvers.

Curriculum Information

Year 7

The basis of Year 7 textiles will be batik (drawing with hot wax). The subject matter will be adjusted to fit with the thematic curriculum.

This is Me Day of the Dead batik	This is Us Cultural animal batik	Genius of the Past Leonardo Da Vinci Studies of feathers Poly-block prints of feathers
Inventions of the Future DaVinci’s flying machines paper sculpture of a wing Inventing a Wren bird of the future	Power of Humans Studies of the human figure Alberto Giacometti Wire and Modroc sculpture	Power of the Earth Micro studies of natural forms lino printing

Year 8

My Values Fabric printed with initials	Family Values Fabric printed with cakes	Clashes of culture Fabric printed with symbols from two different cultures
Celebration of culture Buddhist art Mandalas	The Power of Technology Fabric printed with symbols	The Power of Your Voice Fabric printed with musical notes

Year 9

Students are taught on a rotation in Technology.   This will enable them to be taught three Technology specialisms with specialist teachers– Textiles, Resistant Materials and Food Technology. In Textiles students will be learning how to tie-dye a t-shirt. They then design and cut their own stencils to print a logo to the front of their t-shirts. This project introduces students to the use of design briefs, developing intial ideas through to the end product. In Resistant Materials students will make a mirror. This project will be an introduction in to GCSE Design Technology and what a design and make project is. Students will have to design, make and evaluate their own project using a given brief. Students will be using basic tools, techniques and materials to create their final outcome. The main focus for the students is answering the brief and developing their own flair/skills. In Food Technology students will learn about the principles of healthy eating and firm knowledge of food preparation and nutrition. Lessons will be split 40:60 (theory:practical). Students will initially establish an understanding of health and safety considerations in the Food Technology room, to follow with an understanding of the Eatwell guide and the principles of healthy eating. Students will then follow onto learning about different food groups, and learning about energy balance and calories. Students will then apply this knowledge to the nutritional contents of food, and the role which nutrients play in our bodies.

GCSE Exam board information

AQA GCSE Design and Technology Written exam paper 1: 2 hours – 50% of GCSE Non-exam assessment: 30–35 hours approx – 50% of GCSE

Food technology – all students in years 7, 8 and 9 are learning the following

1) Health and safety in the food room

2) Basic understanding of the need for a balanced diet. Practical – Fresh Fruit Salad

3) Practical – Fresh tomato sauce

4) Understanding of different food groups.   Practical – Cous Cous salad

5) Energy balance and calories in/out. Practical – Bread rolls

6)  Nutrients and what is in our food. Practical – Indian curry

7)   Reflection on practical work/grading/target setting –  Practical flapjacks

 

Extended Learning and independent projects will link food technology to the thematic curriculum

Year 7

Tools of trade/This is me: EL on a meal plan and rating your diet

This is us: What your family eat and the UK population and how we can improve our diets?

Genius of the past: What did we used to eat? How have our diets improved?

The inventions of the future: Research into GM/packaging etc

The power of humans: Us, our body, what we need, meal plan? Protein?

The power of the earth: EL on sustainability, how we can make better food choices for the environment

 

Year 8

My values: Ethics, your own values with food, special diets (vegan etc)

Family values: What your family eat. Research a popular family dish and adapt it

Clashes of culture: ‘ Foods from around the world’ Whole country research project.

Celebration of culture: Foods from around the world’ Whole country research project.

The power of technology: Factories, researching new methods of farming

The power of my voice: marketing for food, find a food advert, analyse, brand image

Extra Curricular Activities

An extended learning club runs once a week during lunchtime to enable students to use the materials in the technology department.

These will not run during COVID-19 restrictions.