Handsworth Grammar School

Design & Technology

Aims

Design and Technology at Handsworth is a popular department in the school. All year groups are encouraged to express their creativity and analytical skills through a range of varied projects, which embrace a range of Design and Technology disciplines. Throughout these projects we have a common aim to equip students with the necessary skills to follow design ideas through from conception, development to realisation.

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 our programme of study aims to develop communication skills such as technical drawing and the use of ICT in Computer Aided Design (Through Pro-Desktop). During this time students will have extensive workshop based practical sessions in which they will develop confidence with a full range of tools and materials available.

Year 7
Students will undertake an introductory programme to the department over a period of seven weeks in which they will be introduced to the different disciplines in the department, safe practice and our expectations workshop safety and standards for presentation of written folder work. This will lead into a circus of four projects:

  • Resistant Materials
    Balancing Toy - This is a Metalwork project which will involve the use of traditional hand tools to work with steel and brass. Students will also be introduced to Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture and the brazing hearth.
  • Electronics
    Fuse Tester - This is an Electronics project in which the students are introduced to soldering and making, using electronic components to produce a working product. They also have Graphic element in which they will design and produce a box that will meet their design specification.
  • Graphics
    Pop up Card -This is a graphics project which onvolves paper engeneering and introduces students to design skills using Layout and Typography.
  • Cad/Cam
    During this project students are introduced to Computer Aided Design and will design their own artefact which will be realised using Boxford Cam machines.

Year 8
During this year students will work towards a greater understanding of the design process, they will establish a specification for all projects and work towards a structured evaluation:

  • Electronics
    Sensor Circuit - This is an electronic project which will further develop students practical skills in soldering and making. Students will not only produce a working a circuit but also identify a real world use that will react to environmental factors.
  • Resistant Materials
    Mechanical Toy - Students will work with a range of materials to produce a mechanical toy. Apart from practical work students will build up a theory folder looking at mechanisms and materials.
  • Graphics
    Cardboard Engineering this project builds upon graphics skills and knowledge. Students will produce a 3D working model of piston and crank.
  • Cad/Cam
    Students will design on screen and realise their design using Boxford Cad/Cam in a range of materials such as MDF and Styrofoam.
  • Resistant Material/Graphics
    Flight Competition - This is a short project (7 Weeks) in which students will build and fly a glider in competiton with the other students in the group. Students will also design and build a bottle rocket that carry an egg, hopefully without breaking it.

Year 9
Students will work closely to the design process as used by our exam board AQA. This is an important year that will involve option choices for GCSC. Not all students will choose to continue a Technology option:

  • Electronics
    Alarm and Case- This project will introduce the production Printed Circuit Boards (PCB's) and the use of Pro-Desktop and Boxford Cad/Cam in order to produce a case.
  • Resistant Materials
    Students will use a range of resistant materials, wood, metal and plastic to produce a working helicopter. As well as a range of materials students will be introduced to a range of processes. The design element of this project will involve an understanding of ergonomics. This project will also tie in with the graphics.
  • Graphics
    This project is tied in with the making element from the resistant materials project. Students will design packaging for their project and also look at producing a range of drawings in isometric and orthographic. Students will also use Cad/Cam in the production of their packaging.
  • Technical Graphics
    During this project students will given the challenge of producing a graphic explanation to describe everyday tasks, such as tying a tie or a shoelace using only graphics.
  • Options
    At the end of Year 9 students will follow a range of transitional projects depending upon their options. Those not opting for Design Technology in KS3 will be following a scheme based upon flight in which they will make a range of powered and non-powered aircraft.

Key Stage 4

We currently offer three courses from the AQA suite at GCSE level: Resistant Materials, Electronics and Graphic Products. Courses are over - subscribed at GCSE level.

Coursework counts for 60% of the final mark with 40% being upon examination. We offer a Technology club for our GCSE students to support them in their course work.

Key Stage 5

At AS and A2, the department offers one course from OCQ in Product Design.

AS consists of three modules: two based on folder work and one theory module leading to examination. A2 requires a design folder, a finished artefact and a theory module.

The exam board marks all work.