Aims

• To encourage pupils to be enquiring, curious, inventive, creative resourceful, confident, and discriminating, through their technology and design activities.

• To develop individual initiative and the ability to work with others in the solving of problems in preparation for adult life.

• To encourage the acquisition of a body of knowledge and an understanding of the design process and its application to solving design problems.

• To develop a range of communication and making skills central to the design process.

• To provide a safe environment for pupils to work in.

Key Stage 3

The four elements of Technology (Communication, Design, Manufacturing and Control) are taught using an integrated approach. Pupils spend a majority of their time in the workshop making projects, but are also assessed through focused tasks, worksheets and exams. The pupils encounter work of a more complex and demanding nature as they progress through Key Stage 3. The main projects that the pupils work on are a Propeller Driven Buggy, a Can Light and a Steady Hand Game.

Key Stage 4 - Occupational Studies in Engineering

A GCSE is awarded when two units from a particular strand (e.g. Engineering & Engineering Services) are completed at Key Stage 4. A student would typically do the “Hand Fitting” unit in Year 11 and then the “CAD” unit in Year 12.

Hand Fitting - This unit is designed to give the learner a basic understanding of the practical skills and basic knowledge required in the production of assembled components manufactured from metal. This unit includes: -

• Consideration of health and safety issues within the unit;

• Consideration of career opportunities available within engineering and/or manufacturing;

• Selection and use of appropriate hand tools and measuring equipment;

• Development of the techniques of measuring, cutting, filing, drilling and threading component parts;

• The manufacture of various parts for assembly to make a finished component;

• A review and evaluation of performance.

CAD - This unit introduces learners to basic skills in the use of an industry standard Computer Aided Design (CAD) drafting package. This unit includes: -

• Consideration of health and safety issues in CAD;

• Consideration of career opportunities in CAD;

• Routine drafting techniques in CAD;

• Creating component drawings in CAD;

• Consideration of environmental issues in CAD;

• A review and evaluation of performance.

Key Stage 4 - Occupational Studies in Construction

The second Occupational Study we offer is Construction. The students study Bench Joinery and Carpentry and Joinery.

Bench Joinery

This unit is designed to provide increased vocational skills in bench joinery and associated activities. This unit includes:

• consideration of health and safety issues with respect to workshop activities in bench joinery;

• consideration of career opportunities related to working with wood in the construction industry;

• an appreciation of environmental issues relating to timber;

• the appropriate use of bench joinery hand tools, and basic hand-held power tools;

 • techniques of cutting, jointing, boring and planning to produce construction related components;

• construction of a range of bench joinery models; and

• a review and evaluation of performance.

Carpentry and Joinery

This unit includes:

• consideration of health and safety issues with respect to activities in carpentry and joinery;

• consideration of career opportunities related to working with wood in the construction industry;

• an appreciation of environmental issues relating to timber;

• the appropriate use of basic carpentry and joinery hand tools and hand-held power tools;

• construction of a range of carpentry and joinery models relating to site-based activities, incorporating a wide range of joints and jointing methods;

• a review and evaluation of performance