VISION

Our vision is to develop resilient, innovative and creative learners, who want to explore their passions through making. We encourage all our students to challenge existing products and analyse thoroughly to develop their own skills and understanding. Students are able to access a broad curriculum across Product Design, Engineering and Cooking & Nutrition that sets them up with transferable skills for the future.

INTENT

At Magna Academy, we believe it is our responsibility to embrace the creativity of our students and allow them to express themselves through practical engagement. In all areas of our Design and Technology department, we have a rich curriculum aimed at developing the technical and practical expertise needed to perform tasks with confidence. Students will learn how to take risks, problem solve and become resourceful individuals.

Product Design and Engineering

Students are taught to explore design through the iterative cycle of design, make and evaluate. During this process, they will work in a range of domestic, local and industrial contexts in order to understand how tasks apply to the real world. Students will develop a skill set that will be transferable across many disciplines within the design and engineering industry and will apply cross curricular knowledge from subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Geography and Art.

Cooking and Nutrition

We believe we have a duty to develop a crucial life skill that will provide each and every student the ability to feed themselves and others. Students are not only taught a range of cooking techniques, but also how to apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating to a range of target groups, encompassing foods from a global cuisine.

IMPLEMENTATION

Lessons will take the format of either theory based or skills based activities, which will enable teachers to ensure misconceptions are addressed promptly through feedback. Course specifications will be used to guide students to achieve their highest potential. Where lessons are practical, there will be high quality modelling with explanations, deliberate practice, questioning and continuous feedback. The Design and Technology department offers a safe learning environment where mistakes are considered opportunities to develop skills.

Product Design and Engineering

At Key Stage 3, students partake in a variety of activities which will allow them to research and explore a range of design questions or problems in line with the ATL (Applied Transdisciplinary Learning) framework. They will analyse, design, develop and present their own ideas, relating these to the real world. During the design cycle, they will develop practical hand skills, drawing techniques and Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills. Students will get the opportunity to explore how materials respond to different techniques allowing them to make informed choices for their ideas.

In Key Stage 4, we offer a choice of AQA GCSE Product Design or WJEC Level 1/2 Engineering. Both subjects will have coursework to complete which will make up a percentage of their final grade, with the rest being an exam. Students will utilise their independent design skills from KS3 to direct their design following a brief. They will need to select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes and critically evaluate themselves.

Cooking and Nutrition

In Key Stage 3, students will develop essential life skills which they will be able to link to nutrition and healthy eating. They will develop a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes that they would be able to feed themselves and others on a healthy and varied diet, accounting for different dietary requirements. Students will confidently apply a range of cooking techniques and use a variety of utensils and equipment, whilst adhering to health and safety regulations.

In Key Stage 4, we currently offer WJEC Hospitality and Catering, which combines students’ practical skills with an understanding of the hospitality industry. The course is made up of both coursework and an exam, inclusive of a practical submission where students have to plan, prepare and present a two course meal. Students will be given a brief to which they will be able to demonstrate their understanding of foods, equipment, methods and varied diets to independently design a dish that will satisfy the brief. Alongside this student’s will enhance their ability to critique their work and make future improvements.

Design Technology Curriculum Overviews:
Design Technology Age Related Expectations
Design Technology Assessment Journey

IMPACT

Students will carry out practical lessons during the majority of their double length lessons; this will allow the teacher to evaluate their working skills and assess their understanding for the task at hand. This will offer opportunities for high quality questioning, misconceptions to be addressed, essential content to be recovered and continuous feedback.

Students will also complete written tasks, inclusive of evaluations. The Design and Technology department emphasises the importance of being able to justify your ideas, utilising language skills developed in English. Key Stage 3 will be marked against the national curriculum guidelines and will submit their practical work to demonstrate their understanding for all elements involved within their project. Key Stage 4 will be assessed against their appropriate specification, which is shared with students to allow them to understand how the grading is applied. Coursework is then internally verified to align with the exam board’s guidance.

Where next

Effective Revision

This is a very important time in the life of any student preparing for a variety of year group assessments, mocks or final course exams. In…

Effective Revision

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