Department Vision
Looking towards the future, design technology is becoming increasingly essential in the modern world as we attempt to shape our future. Our curriculum is designed to provide pupils with an understanding of both current and emerging technologies, design trends and exploring how these developments may impact them and society generally in the years ahead and to offer pupils the tools to be able to shape their future should they wish to explore a career in design.
Through our curriculum, pupils will learn how to:
- Develop both hands-on and digital design thinking skills
- Learn both 2D and 3D design and product development
- Be able to confidently use hand and machine tools as well as CAD/CAM
- Acquire invaluable and highly versatile problem-solving skills
Years 7 – 9
Design and Technology teaching plays unique and highly significant role in the key stage three curriculum at Queen’s Gate School. The subject broadly combines the study fields of maths, chemistry, physics as well as art and design. In Years 7 and 8, pupils are introduced to a wide variety of specific design projects to acquaint them with both physical hand making and digital design and learn how this is used in the real world. Pupils become competent at a wide variety of making skills as well as learning digital platforms such as the Adobe Creative Suite and AutoCAD 3D software. In year 9, pupils are also introduced to the OCR iterative design process via a taster project for pupils who may wish to take GCSE Design and Technology in year ten.
GCSE
Exam Board: OCR
The two-year GCSE Design and Technology course is based on the OCR exam board process of iterative design challenge where pupils are lead through a broad range of learning experiences as well as learning the theoretical aspects of design and manufacture. The GCSE qualification is split into two sections; a 50% coursework project known as a non-exam assessment, or NEA, the other 50% of the qualification is a design theory examination and the end of the course.
Students will develop the ability to:
- Understand and apply the core principles of creative design through learning both practical and theoretical knowledge.
- Learn how to analyse problems and find their own answers which greatly enhances their confidence and belief in their own abilities.
- Think creatively, analytically, logically, and critically and learn how to organise their time and personal work schedules.
- Learn how to confidently extend their creative ambitions with practical knowledge and advanced digital competence.
QG Super Curriculum
Queen’s Gate Schools unique location offers to pupils the experience to enjoy many local landmark design institutions such and the Design Museum and the V&A, both of which are used as pupil enrichment and enhanced learning centres as part of the Design and Technology curriculum teaching at all levels.
