The Zone:
The Design and Technology Zone encompasses the subject areas of Product Design,
Resistant Materials, Food, Textiles and Construction. There are five full time members of staff that are not only specialists in their own D&T subject area but also highly experienced in at least one other D&T subject area. The zone is supported by a full-time Product
Design/Resistant Materials Technician and a full-time Food/Textiles Technician. In addition, we have a school based team of experienced Classroom Assistants who work with designated students and groups. The Zone is housed in its own, newly built (2008), dedicated block with specialist subject area classrooms. All teaching rooms are generously proportioned, light, clean and up to date. We have two workshops, two food rooms, two design based rooms (fully fitted with PC’s/Laptops), two technician preparation areas and a
Textiles room. Smart Boards, visualisers, laptop trolleys, tablets, laser cutters, CNC
Routers, Vinyl Cutters, 3D Printers along with the more traditional tools and machines, assist students and their learning.
The Team
Teamwork is the key to success for the
Zone and we work closely on a daily basis. We share ideas, share work, strive to improve, help each other, and meet with each other regularly. We try to do the best we can for ourselves and the team. Not only does this contribute to the wellbeing of staff, but it is crucial to outstanding teaching and learning experiences for our students.
D&T Staff
Gareth Davies – Zone Leader
Richard Riley – RM & Prod Des (leaving)
Kath Harper – Subject Leader Food &
Textiles
Rebecca Errett – Teacher of RM & Prod Des
Natalie Eaton - Teacher of Textiles & Prod
Des

Michael Penchion – Technician RM & Prod
Des
Hilary Sheard – Technician Food & Textiles
The Curriculum
GCSE Progress outcomes for Design and
Technology are consistently the best in the school. We believe this is achieved through our engaging curriculum, outstanding teaching, dedication to individual students and pride in our teaching environment. Engaging students in their learning through practical activities underpins the majority of our lessons.
KS3
All KS3 students in the school study Design and Technology. Lessons are timetabled to be 100 minutes long and are scheduled once per week. We currently operate a roundabout type system. This allows students to spend 13 weeks in each area of the Design and Technology Zone in Year 7, 8 & 9.
Learning activities include: Healthy Foods; Pencil case project; Speaker project;
Problem solving tasks; Electronics; Gift in a Box; Meals of the World & Tribal
Tidy.
KS4
Design and Technology at KS4 is an optional subject for students. We allocate two lessons per week at KS4, one lesson of 100 minutes duration and the other at 50 minutes. The courses are taught over the full two years (Yr10 & Yr 11) with all examinations scheduled in the summer of Yr
11. We currently deliver BTEC Level 1/2
Construction and the Built Environment, AQA GCSE
Resistant Materials, and AQA GCSE Product
Design. We teach the Product Design course through Food, Fashion and 3D Design based activities. Design and Technology subjects are popular choices for students at KS4 and ‘after school enhancement’ lessons, arranged by the
Zone, assist students with their learning and understanding. Learning activities include: The
Games Compendium; Designer Chairs; Gadget
Storage; Mobile Phone Design; Extreme Fashion;
Cook Chill products; Novelty Cake & Low Voltage
Lamp.

The Future
We continually evaluate what we deliver. Current topics up for discussion include the new
KS3 National Curriculum, KS3/KS4 Electronic Products, KS3/KS4 Engineering.
We look forward to developing new initiatives and building on our previous successes.
Newcomers to the zone will be welcomed and fully supported by the team.