Departments
Design & Technology
All pupils and students at Hagley Catholic High School follow a taught course of Design and Technology. We focus on designing and prototyping but also cover areas relevant to Mathematics, English and Science. We operate a carousel system in KS3 and deliver projects related to the use of papers and boards, metals, woods, plastics, CAD/CAM and electronics/systems and control. Our aim is to prepare students for the wider world, to help them go on to make well informed choices as they go on to shape the future. We hope that students will choose to study a GCSE in Design and Technology but certainly we aim to show them how the theory they learn with us, and in their other subjects, can be put to a wider practical use. The Department is staffed by two specialist teachers, supported by an experienced technician:
- Mr M Button - Subject Leader of D&T - mbutton@hagleyrc.worcs.sch.uk
- Mr D Goddard - Teacher of D&T - dgoddard@hagleyrc.worcs.sch.uk
- Mr R Caulwell - Technician - rcaulwell@hagleyrc.worcs.sch.uk
To view the curriculum mapping doument for Design and Technology please click the link below. Any queries please contact the Head of Department
Subject Overview
KEY STAGE 3
In Key Stage 3 students move through a carousel system, which includes Food and Nutrition, where they will spend approximately 10 weeks in each subject area, developing a range of Design and Manufacturing knowledge and skills which will help prepare them for work and life. These skills build towards Key Stage 4 courses.
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
At KS4 you can choose to study GCSE Design & Technology. The course we offer is the Edexcel 1DTO specification. This course has two units; an exam and a N.E.A. project, each worth 50% of the marks for the course. The exam theory will tests students’ knowledge and understanding of all areas of Design and Technology; from a materials science understanding of woods, metals, polymers and fabrics, to environmental issues such as product life cycles and energy generation, storage and distribution. The Non-Examined Assessment, or design and make project, is based on a choice of tasks set by the exam board each year, this is introduced toward the end of Year 10. This is a two year course. Our current specialist materials area is papers and boards.
Year 11
In year 11 we focus on the Non Examined Assessment part of the course. Students have until Easter to research, analyse design, develop, plan, manufacture, and then test and evaluate a unique product. Students are expected to find and work with a client who will identify a specific need, which the student has to solve through the manufacture of a prototype product. This experience builds a wide variety of skills including: working to a deadline; working with a client or end user; communication and presentation skills and detailed manufacturing skills. Students are also expected to demonstrate how their knowledge and understanding of their specialist area has developed during the project. This work is internally marked and then externally moderated.
Assessment
- During Key Stage 3, work is formatively assessed in an ongoing manner and then summatively assessed at the end of each module. The final mark for each module is recorded and it contributes to their overall mark at the end of the year. We include self and peer assessment against a grade ladder of written descriptors as a part of our approach to ensure pupils understand how to improve their work. This grade ladder helps students to develop their knowledge and skills to prepare them for our GCSE course.
- During Key Stage 4 we use the N.E.A. mark scheme and sample and past exam papers to monitor practical and theoretical progress. We use the N.E.A. mark scheme throughout to measure progress with the N.E.A.
Extra Curricular
- The department offers extra-curricular support to all students at lunchtimes and after school. We also run a Warhammer modelling and table top gaming club.
