Design Technology

Design Technology at Key Stage 3 is designed to be exciting as well as teach the students to be innovative and problem solve whilst learning both traditional and Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing skills.

Key Topics and Projects

In Year 7, students do a variety of projects that have a focus on skills. Firstly, students design and manufacture a jewellery stand with an introduction to 2D design, the laser cutter, woodworking machines, hand tools and basic wood joints. They then move on to an introduction to metal work by designing and manufacturing a pewter cast pendant. The final project of Year 7 has a plastic focus where the students design and manufacture a chocolate mould using the vacuum former. In Year 8, the students have the chance to shine. We teach further wood, metal and plastic skills and give the students the opportunity to use the 3D printer or CNC router if they wish to. Showcasing their skills, they design and manufacture a light that is unique. In Year 9, students design and manufacture a blue tooth speaker. We continue to push boundaries with creativity and innovation and further develop their skills to design more complex outcomes becoming confident with hand techniques with traditional craft and modern manufacturing techniques including CNC and CAD CAM equipment.

RHS Learner Qualities

As a designer, students need to be empathetic in understanding their intended user needs. The students follow the iterative design process which encourages the students to be a critical thinker, a problem solver and to push boundaries to take risks with their ideas. The students then test their thinking and reflect upon what they have learnt, to develop and refine their ideas to a final solution.

Co-Curricular

In Design Technology we offer a variety of cocurricular opportunities for Key Stage 3 students to come down and use the workshop to design and make products of their own choice and extend their skills. We also run a variety of competitions throughout the year for the students to enter.

‘Design is a way to make my ideas and imagination real’

Year 9 student