Technology

Subject Teacher: Mr D Allen

The Year 8 experience

It’s likely this will be the first time an 11-year-old has been in a manufacturing environment.

During Key Stage 2 they will have had many opportunities to enter the design world but limited means to manufacture their creation to a high standard. So much to their excitement, this will be their chance to see their designs come to life as a working product. But an enjoyable learning experience never come at the cost of safety. A great emphasis is placed on personal and group safety during technology sessions, especially during the first term of year 8.

It is my goal that year 8 will have both an enjoyable and safe experience. To achieve this I have developed unique units of work that I find pupils enjoy and respond to positively.

Unit 1 – The spaghetti measure project. Pupils will use hand tools and machines to produce a Spaghetti measure in beech hardwood.

In this project pupils mark out, cut, file, drill, sand and danish oil their final piece to a high standard.

They will complete a theory booklet alongside their practical where they will learn about Technology processes, materials, tools and machinery. They will carry out a product evaluation after completing the manufacture of their project. Finally pupils use a basic graphics software package to represent their design using ICT.

Unit 2 - Coat hanger project

Pupils will use hand tools and machines to produce a coat hook.

In this project pupils mark out, cut, file, drill, sand and paint/decorate their final piece to a high standard.

Technology and Design for Year 9

The Year 9 experience

Unit 1 - Weathervane project

Year 9 pupils will work with mild steel and aluminium to produce their own unique weathervane. They will learn to cut, thread, rivet, weld and dip coat metal to produce a weather vane to a high standard. This will allow them to accurately work with metal and learn how to finish it to a high standard. They will also develop their skills in sketching, Computer Aided Design and the theory of metal by completing their weathervane booklet.

Unit 2 – Electronic key-light project

Year 9 pupils will learn to use 2D design software to design a key ring torch which the will manufacture on a CNC router. This will be produced in acrylic with a brushed stainless effect and will incorporate an engraved design of their choice. This project will allow pupils to grasp the basics of electronics and CNC machining.

Technology and Design Year 10

The Year 10 experience

Unit 1 -Wooden trinket box

Year 10 pupils will learn to work with wood tools and machinery to produce an accurate trinket box in pine with a plywood base and an engraved sliding lid. This project introduces pupils to measuring and cutting wood joints and builds on their existing experience of CNC engraving in year 9.

Unit 2 - Night light circuit and acrylic enclosure

This project covers the majority of the GCSE electronics module allowing pupils to model a circuit on design software, convert it into a PCB layout which they then construct. They will then fabricate an acrylic enclosure to house the nightlight circuit ensuring it is completed to a high standard with hand tools and machines in the workshop.

Unit 3 -Solidworks

Students will have the opportunity to grow proficient in CAD software by completing a number of Solidworks tutorials which will guide them through drawing the projects that the manufacture in year 10.

Technology and Design GCSE

Year 11 and 12 Students T&D pupils will follow the CCEA course.

They will have a Unit 1 theory exam in May of year 11 covering the following topics-

Wood
Metal
Plastic
Pneumatics
Mechanisms
Electronics
Computer Control

This will be taught through a mixture of practical and theory lessons throughout the year and is worth 25% of their GCSE.

Pupils will also learn more in depth skills in CNC and CAD to help them become more competent in these areas for their year 12 project.

Year 12 pupils will complete a design and make project in year 12 which is worth 50% of their GCSE.

They will also complete a unit 2 exam on Pneumatics and Mechanism in the May of their year 12. This final exam is also worth 25 % of their GCSE.

Occupational Studies - Technology and Innovation

Bench Joinery and CAD is also delivered in the department to some of the year 11 & 12 students.

These units are very practical based and are part of a Level 2 CCEA Vocational studies qualification.

Students get to undertake the two units which are very practical in nature, where they produce a portfolio of evidence of the practical work that they complete throughout the two years. These units give the students a great insight into Bench Joinery and Computer Aided Design where they will hopefully gain an understanding of the type of work involved in the two career areas .