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Design Technology

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Our committed Design & Technology teachers work towards building positive relationships with every student to stimulate belief in their abilities and build resilience in their learning to achieve their potential. Our teachers set clear expectations and provide a clear and safe working environment for all students to thrive in. They share their passion for their specialisms, which include wood and metal joining, and manipulation, textiles and fashion design, printmaking, paper manipulation and ceramics. Historically this has led to a popular intake to our 3D Design GCSE and A level courses.

KS3

Our Design & Technology curriculum has been carefully designed using the National Curriculum and KS3 Progression Framework to provide students with a broad, engaging and ambitious experience of design, manufacture and problem solving.

Throughout Years 7, 8 and 9, students develop knowledge and skills across Product Design, Resistant Materials, Graphics, Textiles, Food and Nutrition, Sustainable Design and Manufacturing. Students learn how designers respond to real-world challenges through research, experimentation, making and evaluation.

In Year 7, students explore themes of food, sustainability and product design. They develop practical cooking skills, investigate food hygiene and nutrition, create promotional graphics and point-of-sale displays, and explore sustainable materials and manufacturing processes.

In Year 8, students investigate character design, visual communication, costume design and product manufacture. Through typography, graphic communication, vacuum forming, textiles techniques and pewter casting, students develop their understanding of how products communicate identity, function and meaning.

In Year 9, students explore themes of shelter, sustainability and ethical manufacture. Students investigate user-centred design through homelessness, sustainability and ethical manufacture. They experiment with materials, analyse environmental impact and explore how design can respond responsibly to human need. Students also investigate the history of textile manufacture and the impact of industrialisation on society and the environment.

Students develop practical skills through primary research, observational drawing, model making, material testing, manufacturing processes, workshop practice and digital design technologies where appropriate. Through a range of materials and processes, students learn how ideas develop from concept through to manufacture and evaluation. Students are encouraged to think creatively, solve problems independently and develop resilience through iterative design and making.

Students also develop disciplinary literacy through reading, discussion, analysis and evaluation. They learn to communicate ideas effectively using subject-specific vocabulary and regularly reflect on their own progress through structured self-assessment, peer assessment and teacher feedback.

Our curriculum promotes a growth mindset and recognises that learning is not always linear. Students are assessed through milestone descriptors which recognise developing knowledge, skills and understanding across different areas of Design & Technology.

KS3 Assessment and Milestones

Students in Years 7–9 are assessed using milestone descriptors which recognise their developing knowledge, understanding and practical skills. Our milestone approach supports a growth mindset and acknowledges that progress is not always linear. Students may demonstrate different strengths across different disciplines, materials and projects throughout the curriculum.

Further information can be found in the Design & Technology KS3 Assessment Criteria document.

Extra-Curricular

There are many opportunities for students to engage with Design & Technology beyond the classroom through competitions, workshops, enrichment activities and leadership opportunities.

KS3 students are invited to take part in six-week enrichment programmes each term, with three enrichment blocks offered across the academic year. Activities may include Meccano Engineering, Textiles and Fashion Design, Jewellery Making, Product Design and 3D Printing.

For GCSE students, intervention sessions take place every Monday from 3:00pm–4:00pm throughout both Week A and Week B. Students are also encouraged to access departmental facilities during lunchtime under staff supervision to support independent study and coursework development.

KS4

At Key Stage 4 we offer the AQA GCSE 3D Design course. This qualification encourages students to explore design through creativity, investigation, experimentation and practical making.

The course is made up of two components. Component 1: Personal Portfolio is worth 60% of the final grade and consists of a series of teacher-led and student-led projects. Component 2: Externally Set Assignment is worth 40% of the final grade and culminates in a practical examination.

Students respond to four Assessment Objectives which require them to investigate contextual influences, record observations and ideas, experiment with materials, processes and techniques, and produce personal outcomes.

Throughout the course students explore a broad range of designers, artists, architects and design movements through written analysis, practical experimentation and model making.

CAD/CAM is integrated where appropriate to support students' individual design development. Students use Affinity Photo for digital image manipulation, visual communication and presentation of ideas. Within architectural and spatial design projects, students use TechSoft 2D Design to develop and refine design proposals before producing components using laser cutting technology. CAD/CAM processes are used as part of the iterative design process alongside hand drawing, model making and material experimentation.

Projects encourage students to respond creatively to real-world themes and design challenges whilst developing independence, resilience and problem-solving skills. Through an iterative design process, students learn to generate, refine and communicate ideas with increasing confidence and technical skill, preparing them for progression into further education, apprenticeships and careers within the creative industries.

Exam Board: AQA

KS5

Students can progress onto the AQA A-Level 3D Design course at The Bulmershe Sixth Form. The course has a distinctive architectural and spatial design focus, with students exploring architecture, environmental design and the relationship between people and the built environment. It prepares students for progression into higher education, apprenticeships and careers in areas such as Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Product Design, Engineering and the wider creative industries.

The curriculum is centred around the design of spaces, environments and structures that respond to the needs of people and communities. Students investigate how architects and designers create meaningful, functional and sustainable environments through research, drawing, modelling, digital design and critical analysis.

Component 1, worth 60% of the qualification, consists of a Personal Investigation and Personal Study. Students develop a sustained design project through a creative journey that includes site analysis, primary research, contextual investigation, design development, material experimentation, technical drawing, digital modelling and the production of architectural outcomes. Alongside this, students complete a written Personal Study that explores themes and influences relevant to their practical work.

Projects frequently explore themes such as community, sustainability, environmental psychology, user-centred design and the relationship between people and the built environment. Students are encouraged to develop personal lines of enquiry whilst applying professional design processes used within architecture and spatial design industries.

Component 2, worth 40% of the qualification, is the Externally Set Assignment. Students respond to a starting point provided by AQA and undertake an independent programme of research, experimentation, design development and refinement. The course culminates in a 15-hour practical examination during which students realise a final outcome in response to their chosen theme.

Throughout the course students build advanced skills in freehand drawing, technical drawing, CAD (Computer Aided Design), digital visualisation, model making, prototyping, material exploration and presentation techniques. Students are encouraged to think critically, communicate complex ideas and develop innovative solutions to architectural and design challenges.

The course provides an excellent foundation for students wishing to pursue Architecture and related creative disciplines at university, including progression to university courses and apprenticeships in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Product Design, Engineering and related creative disciplines.

Exam Board: AQA

Our Design and Technology Team

Our Design & Technology faculty comprises two subject specialist teachers and an experienced unqualified teacher currently undertaking teacher training, supported by skilled faculty technicians. Together, the team brings a wealth of experience across a broad range of design disciplines, including product design, architecture, graphics, textiles, food and nutrition, engineering processes and 3D design.

We are passionate about inspiring creativity, curiosity and confidence through practical, engaging and ambitious learning experiences. As a collaborative team, we regularly share our specialist knowledge and skills to continually develop our practice and provide the very best opportunities for our students.

We are committed to helping every student develop the knowledge, resilience and independence needed to become successful designers, makers and problem solvers, both within school and beyond.