Design Technology

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 teachers have used The National Curriculum and KS3 Progression Framework guidance, to tailor a curriculum that is suited to our students, school and wider community. All students in years 7, 8 and 9 will study a Key Stage 3 course, which offers enriching experiences in STEM, Resistant Materials, 3D Design, Graphics, Food and Nutrition and Textiles.

Students develop their knowledge of 20th Century Design Movements and styles such as Mid Century Modernism, Streamlining, Scandinavian Modern, Pop Art, The Silver Age of Comics, and Minimalism through their projects,

Students learn about British inventors of the Industrial Revolution to understand the history and origin of our modern capabilities. Giving them the opportunity to debate and discuss what effects this has had on social, political and economical constructs.

Students develop practical skills to understand the importance of designing and making through primary observation, 2D drawing, CAD*, 3D modelling, CAM*, health and safety, basic machinery and finishing to design personal projects, refine creative ideas, and problem solve contemporary issues. 

They develop their knowledge of technical vocabulary through reading information and instructions, written analysis of existing products and designer’s work and discussions on how developing technology impacts our local, national and international society and environment. 

Students share ideas and analyse their own and others work through structured assessment and feedback activities. These promote students to be reflective and set challenging targets on a regular basis.

KS3 Banding Criteria

If you child is in years 7-9, their report will be graded in bands. To understand the criteria behind these bands, please see the assessment document below:

Design Technology KS3 Assessment Criteria

KS4

At Key Stage 4 we offer the AQA 3D Design GCSE course. This is made up of two parts, which together give a student their final grade. The Personal Portfolio is worth 60% of the overall mark and consists of a series of teacher led and personally led themed assignments and a final examination project, which is worth 40%. Students respond to four assessment objectives, which require them to record observations and ideas, analyse their own and other's artwork, experiment with a range of media in the development of ideas and produce final outcomes.

In this course, students explore artist influences and designers through written analysis and material manipulation and model making, to broaden their knowledge of traditional and contemporary movements, styles, and materials.

Students build on their prior learning to progress their skills of primary observation, 2D drawing, CAD*, 3D modelling, CAM*, basic machinery and finishing towards industry level. To achieve this, students repeat techniques and processes to develop their creative process and skill level to prepare them for the competitiveness of the creative industries.

KS5

Students can then progress onto the 3D Design A level course at The Bulmershe Sixth Form in order to progress into further and higher education and apprenticeships in a range of design areas such as architecture, engineering, furniture design and game design.

Component one, worth 60% of the qualification, consists of a Personal Investigation which is the practical element of the course and an extended written study known as Personal Study. Through these two elements students are guided to fulfil all four Assessment Objectives. This will involve generating and developing ideas, researching primary and contextual resources, recording practical and written observations, experimenting with media and processes and refining ideas towards producing personal resolved outcomes.

Component two, which accounts for the final 40% of the qualification, will be undertaken from February of year 13 and is assessed through an Externally Set Assignment. In this element, students will be given a preparatory period to produce a portfolio of practical and written development work, based on a starting point supplied by AQA. The course culminates in a 15 hour review period, under examination conditions of sustained focus in which students realise a final outcome in response to the externally set theme.

*CAD – Computer Aided Design

*CAM – Computer Aided Manufacture

Extra-Curricular

There are many opportunities and cross curricular events that pupils can engage with outside of the classroom, including competitions, being subject ambassadors and attending workshops taught by our specialist teachers.

KS3 students are invited to sign up to extra curricular clubs on a termly basis. The sessions run on a week A only from 3:00pm - 4:30pm. These are structured throughout the year and may include Mechano, Textiles/ Fashion Design, Jewellery Making and 3D Printing clubs.

For our GCSE students we provide tutor time intervention sessions Monday - Thursday Every week and afterschool on Week B from 3:00pm-5:00pm twice a week. For students unable to attend afterschool they are encouraged to use the department facilities at lunchtime under supervision.

Our Design & Technology Team 

Our faculty comprises of four subject specialist teachers who offer a range of expertise, skills and knowledge in a range of design disciplines, accompanied by our fantastic faculty technician and UQ teacher. Our committed faculty staff strive to ensure your child receives a high quality of teaching and learning, giving students a broad experience of Design & Technology, which enthuses and inspires them to be creative and successful students. We are a collaborative team, who regularly share our knowledge and skills with each other, which extends not only the staff’s knowledge but also the students we teach.

Design & Technology Teaching Staff

Miss H Gardiner: 
Technician and UQ Teacher of Design & Technology
hgardiner@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk 

Mrs J Poulton:
Teacher of Design & Technology (Part-Time: Monday & Wednesday)
BA hons History of Art/ PGCE
jpoulton@bulmershe.wokingha.sch.uk 

Miss E Brown: 
Teacher of Design & Technology
BA hons Textiles: Innovation and Design/ PGCE 
ebrown@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk 

Mr C Packman:
Teacher of Design & Technology
BA hons Interior Architecture/ PGCE
cpackman@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk 

Mrs K Trenwith:
Head of Design & Technology and Second in Faculty: Creative Arts
BA hons Fine Art/ PGCE/ Masters in Education
ktrenwith@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk 

Further Information

Subject Information and Course Content can be found below:

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design

If you have any further queries, please contact the Head of Department, Mrs K Trenwith 

ktrenwith@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk