S1 Design and Technology

Building on the practical skills that pupils learn throughout their time in primary school and combining them with craft tools, machinery and specialist I.C.T we aim to develop confidence, skills and knowledge around the designing and manufacturing of artefacts.

The first year Design and Technology course is, for most pupils, the first opportunity to use tools and participate in an active design and build project that produces a product to take home.

In the design and technology department in first year the pupils will work in both design classrooms and craft rooms to design and make a simple yet effective product that utilises different materials and processes.

​The pupils have D&T for one period a week for the entire year.
​

Design

At the start of the year the pupils will be introduced to a design classroom.

The design classroom is equipped to enable up to 20 pupils with creative tools to help them generate interesting and imaginative ideas.

As well as exploring structured drawing techniques and being introduced to useful computer programs the pupils will also be taught about the Design Cycle.

The Design Cycle
The Design Cycle is not a really flashy bike, it is a structure that is used to problem solve and is very useful in all areas of life and learning.

The pupils will be given the task of designing and making a lamp that uses wood, acrylic and vinyl in combination to create a stimulating and interesting design.

They will use Techsoft 2D design software to design a sticker that will be cut using a CNC drum plotter that will be the personalised part of the lamp.

Cost

In S1 we expect pupils to pay for the materials that go into the making of their lamp. Currently the cost for the lamp project is:
                    £2.00

Manufacture

After the pupils have worked through the Design Cycle and designed the sticker to go on their lamp the class will move into a craft room to start the process of making their lamp.

They will be introduced to a workshop environment, a type of classroom that few of the pupils will have had an experience of. The workshop is again for up to 20 pupils to learn craft skills, it has a large range of woodworking, metalworking and plastic shaping hand tools as well as machinery such as pillar drills, lathes and disc sanders.

Manufacture
The pupils will be taught how to shape and finish Wood and bright edged Acrylic to achieve a variation on a desired shape.

The pupils will be given basic materials and will need use taught skills to combine these materials to create a the body of a lamp to be used with an LED lamp to create an interesting mood lamp.

Rules and Responsibilities

As part of this course the pupils will be working in both design rooms and workshops, they will be expected to turn up to class with particular equipment and considered what they will be doing in the class.

Design Rooms
  1. ALWAYS WAIT OUTSIDE THE ROOM until indicated to go in by a teacher.
  2. SIT IN YOUR ALLOCATED SEAT, teachers may ask you to sit in particular seats at the start of the year.
  3. LOOK AFTER THE EQUIPMENT in the rooms, everthing in the room is a tool for learning. It all needs looking after so that it works for everyone.
  4. When on Computers you should save your work in an organised fashion in your folder on the school NETWORK.

Workshops
  1. SAFETY is the most important thing in the craft room, ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHER, it could mean the difference between working in a safe and unsafe fashion.
  2. ALWAYS WAIT OUTSIDE THE ROOM until indicated to go in by a teacher.
  3. ​LONG HAIR and LOOSE CLOTHING must be tied up or tucked away as it can be both a hygiene or safety problem
  4. If you are doing craft work APRONS are available to protect your clothing.
  5. GO TOYOUR YOUR ALLOCATED WORKBENCH, teachers may ask you to work at a particular bench at the start of the year.
  6. ​Only use your ALLOCATED TOOLBOX this should match with your bench number
  7. REPORT damaged or missing equipment to your teacher as quickly as possible
  8. Misuse of tools is forbidden and you will be removed from class if you do this, they are TOOLS NOT TOYS.