The Design and Technology Faculty

Design and Technology statement

• To ensure the continuity and progression of students through KS3, KS4 and KS5, building upon previous experiences.

• To ensure all children at Oakbank School has the opportunity to make progress and achieve. 

• To encourage the use of Design and Technology capability in developing an awareness of the way in which technology is changing in the home, the work place and lifestyle.

• To provide the best possible education for all our students.

• To interpret and deliver quality Design and Technology and Engineering courses that equate to relevant statutory orders.

‘Design and Technology is an excellent vehicle for ensuring Oakbank students recognise that technology changes both the environment and the circumstances in which people find themselves. The programmes of study always take into consideration that it requires the application of knowledge, understanding and skills drawn from various areas of human activity when involved in their designing and making activities.’

‘Design and Technology has a positive influence to Oakbank students’ ability to better themselves, economically, morally and socially.’

Food Technology Pictures 

The Faculty

The Design and Technology Faculty is a strong and enthusiastic team.  We pride ourselves on the high quality of our teaching and learning, our teamwork and our excellent relationships with students.  We offer students the opportunity to study a range of AQA Design and Technology specifications and Engineering.

The team consists of nineteen members of staff, 15 experienced teaching staff, 3 technicians and 1 non-teaching staff. We are a forward-thinking department, with a wide range of experience and expertise, committed to working together closely on department business, projects, resources and extra curricular activities.  We have an excellent set of shared resources: including our new specification books and in house     e’ technology materials.  All teachers use rooms located in the Design and Technology area and each room is fitted with a computer and a projector.  Each and every classroom / workshop is well equipped, well presented and an excellent environment for learning.

Our department policy is to ensure that each student is provided with the opportunities to achieve his/her full potential in Design and Technology, regardless of gender, ability or ethnic origin.  Equal opportunities and respect for the individual is the mainstay of our work with both staff and students alike.

You can contact the Head and subject heads at any time using the following email addresses:

Grant Ellis                Head of Design and Technology  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sue Brearley            Head of Food Technology             This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Deb Lister                Head of Graphic Products             This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Val Cadamarteri      Head of Textiles                               This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Larry Seaman         Head of Resistant Materials          This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Louise Smith          Head of Post 16: D&T                      This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Graphics Products Pictures

Design and Technology results (last 3 years)

2010/11 has been an extremely successful year for Design and Technology at Oakbank School. D&T has seen A* - C GCSE grades increase to 76% (cohort of 272 students), with 54.7% A*, A & B grades. 97.7% of students achieved an A* to G grade.

Nationally, Design and Technology at Oakbank School performed well above the JCQ national cumulative percentage.  The faculty was above in all grades, in particularly A*, A, B & C grades.

Year 8 Resistant Materials Pictures

Year 9 Resistant Materials Pictures

Year 10 Resistant Materials Pictures

Year 11 Resistant Materials Pictures

Curriculum Structure

Key Stage 3

Year 7 – All students have two one hour periods of D & T per week. The students rotate approximately every 10 weeks to study all areas of D & T. This allows one rotation in each Technology specialism. The areas within Design Technology include: Food Technology, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials and Textiles. 

Year 8 – All students have three one hour periods of D & T per week. The students rotate approximately every 10 weeks to study all areas of D & T. This allows one rotation in each Technology specialism. (In the final term, students choose one area to follow for Year 9 onwards).

You can see many photos of the work we undertake at Key Stage 3 Design and Technology at Oakbank School.

Key Stage 4 – Year 9, 10 & 11

All students have three one hour periods of D & T. The Yr 10 and Yr 11 courses are designed to progress naturally out of work done by students at KS3. The department follows the AQA suite of specifications and also he Engineering single award.  Students have the option of specialising in:

Ø      Food Technology

Ø      Graphic Products

Ø      Resistant Materials

Ø      Textiles

Ø      Engineering

Students currently sit their external Design and Technology exam at the end of Year 10, and then undertake their controlled assignment during Year 11.

You can see many photos of the work we undertake at Key Stage 4 Design and Technology at Oakbank School.

Textiles Pictures 

Key Stage 5 – Year 12 & 13

Yr 12 AS Design & Technology: Product Design 

A large number of students opt for AS Level D & T as a result of the excellent GCSE results.  Students have five one hour lessons per week of AS Level D& T.  Throughout the first year, students have many learning opportunities, including sketching skills, research tasks, presentations and modelling projects.  Students are examined during a detailed Product Study and a six hour exam.

Yr 13 A2 Design & Technology: Product New Specification

This course is also very popular and the students have five one hour lessons per week of A2 Level Design & Technology: Product Design.  Design & Technology at Oakbank School has a very high success rate and many students progress onto Design related courses at further and higher education.

You can see many photos of the work we undertake at Key Stage 5 Design and Technology: Product Design at Oakbank School.

Post 16 Pictures 

RESOURCES

Food Technology 

• 3 x rooms which include food preparation and design areas.
• I.T facility which includes 8 PC computers.
• Technician’s preparation room.

Graphic Products  

• 1 x design studio with interactive white board

Resistant Materials           

• 5 x multi-media workshop including Graphic Products facilities.

Textiles Technology        

• 2 x textiles rooms with CAD/CAM facilities.

Resource facilities

• Non teaching administration assistant.
• 1 x technician/store room.
• Machining room.
• All teaching rooms include a staff computer and a LCD Projector.
• 2 x rooms equipped with, in total 40 PC’s.
• High Spec Colour laser printer/scanner
• Camm 1 Vinyl cutters and Craft Robo cutters
• 2  Laser cutters
• Well equipped workshops and multi media rooms