Design and technology
Overview
At KS3 the study of Design And Technology encompasses Food Preparation and Nutrition, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials and Textiles. This is then split at GCSE into Design and Technology and Food Preparation and Nutrition.
KS3
Cohort 7 & 8
Learners will be encouraged to reflect on the skills and knowledge they have gained at primary school. The first few sessions are designed to ignite learners' curiosity about Design and Technology and the design process. Learners will learn through a wide range 
of activities covering the different subject materials. We have created a large selection of resources for each project that will be uploaded to the individual Google Classroom pages and be present in the rooms for inspiration and to 'see' the potential of a project. There will be practical demonstrations which are also supported with the physical examples and guides which will be available via their iPads. This will give the learners a clearer understanding about the material possibilities as many are applicable across the different materials.
KS4
Design and Technology
From Cohort 9, learners are able to become specialists in one of the three disciplines that are available under the D&T umbrella; Graphics, Resistant Materials and Textiles. Over the course of the three year GCSE, learners will develop a deeper understanding of their chosen subject specialism, developing practical skills and knowledge. They will work
collaboratively with others but will work towards creating a portfolio of evidence, and a final practical design product. We see Cohort 9 as a foundation year where projects have been written to allow the learners become familiar with the specialist tools, equipment, IT programs and develop practical skills to a set design brief. As we go through the GCSE course in Cohort 10 the projects are written allowing the learners to apply the learnt skills and knowledge to their chosen products skillfully. At the end of Cohort 10 moving into Cohort 11 we will be focusing on our coursework (NEA) element of the courses where the learners will choose from a small selection of tasks set by the AQA exam board and will have to work independently on their own folder and prototype. We will then move to a structured revision schedule looking at exam technique and the theory, both core and subject specialist.
Food Preparation and Nutrition
From Cohort 9, learners will begin to develop their practical and subject knowledge, Cohort 9 is a foundation year where projects have been written to allow learning of the theory elements of the GCSE course and then apply this to practical dishes, seeing theory in action! Learners are also introduced to specialist food room equipment and dietary IT programs to a set design task and this structure continues throughout Cohort 9 with the support of guidance materials and exemplar work.
As we enter Cohort 10 the projects are written to allow for a little more individual focus, we will undertake mock NEA1 (coursework element) where the learners will interpret a set task and will have to plan their own investigation where they will finish with a written 
report supported by practical applications. The learners will also undertake a mock NEA2 where they will have to research a set brief, plan and develop initial cooks before having 3 hours in the kitchen to prepare, cook and present three dishes. The learners will undertake a final NEA1 and NEA2 in Cohort 11 where they will have to use all of their gained knowledge and skills independently working with the AQA mark scheme, this coursework is worth 50% of their final GCSE. We will then move to a structured revision schedule looking at exam technique and the subject specialist theory.