Highlights of our KS3 curriculum
Some of the highlights our students will experience in Design Technology in Year 7 to 9 are:
The KS3 Design Technology KS3 curriculum builds knowledge and skill using the design process as it’s backbone, starting in Year 7 with the use of key practical skills to make a media stand whilst understanding production flow charts, 2D and 3D drawing skills, specialised terminology and the importance of quality tolerances. In Year 8 the students get to design their own product in answer to a design brief, working to a specification and developing brand packaging whilst learning about CADCAM laser cutting. In Year 9 the students get to produce their own design portfolio in answer to a design question, allowing them to design, model, evaluate and produce a ‘mini’ GCSE portfolio piece so they can experience the realities of being a designer.
The Food curriculum at Callerton Academy is designed so students learn how to make a range of healthy foods, focusing upon key practical skills, using tools, equipment and processes. Each practical session is sequenced and designed to further develop and embed the key skills.
The Year 7 projects introduce students to healthy nutrition, food hygiene and food science whilst preparing and cooking a range of dishes including breakfast muffins, spicy beanburgers, stir fry and koftas. The Year 8 projects develop knowledge of diet and health alongside food providence and continues to build the students cutting, mixing, measuring, folding and baking skills, whist preparing dishes including savoury rice, mini carrot cakes, frittata, fruit scones and chilli con carne. In Year 9 our students extend their knowledge and understanding of food, diet and health and is designed to secure the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform cooking tasks confidently whilst expanding repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to create and make high quality dishes for a wide range of people, including, bacon or mushroom risotto, pasta Fiorentina, samosas, Dutch apple cake and Thai green curry.
Highlights of our KS4 curriculum
As the DT department grows, we will provide students with the opportunity to study a Design Technology specialism at GCSE reflecting staff expertise and student preference to ensure it's tailored to them.
Extracurricular opportunities
Students have the opportunity to use their DT skills in a cross curricular homework with Science, where they can show off their 2D & 3D drawing techniques. In timely lessons, we also visit the Discovery Museum for a tour of our local inventors to allow the students to visualise the vast topic of design technology in both our region and the world. In Year 9 the students produce an energy based homework project with Science so that they can see the links between the subjects and use their knowledge from each subject to clarify their understanding of food science. We also run 7UP classes in DT/Food to give the pupils additional opportunities to explore wider skills in these subjects.
Where can DESIGN TECHNOLOGY take me in the future?
If you want to study Design Technology at university level, some courses require you to have completed the subject as part of your A Levels. Although some university courses may not list Design Technology as an entry requirement, it can still be very helpful for courses in architecture, engineering, information technology and computer science. A GCSE or A-level in Design Technology can also be useful for apprenticeships in carpentry, construction, food manufacturing, interior manufacturing, and engineering technology.
Design Technology goes well with Art, but also with Science and Technology subjects, including Physics, Maths, Chemistry, and IT. When it comes to the Sciences, having knowledge of how physical and chemical processes work can come in handy when designing different products. Including food!
Design and Technology can set you up for a career in a wide variety of industries such as engineering, architecture, information technology, careers in hospitality, and even education. Popular careers for people with design and technology qualifications include product designer, architect, software engineer, civil engineer, carpenter, and chef.
Please take the time to read our curriculum overview, assessment and feedback information and learning journeys for each topic.