Key Stage 3
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Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 students experience a broad and balanced curriculum that gives a secure grounding in all aspects of designing and making high quality products from a variety of materials. We offer a rotation of skills based units through years 7 and 8 each lasting approximately eight weeks, including;
YEAR 7 Units of Work
Textiles | RMT | Electronics | RMT | Graphics |
Educational Toy | Structures | Electronic Point of Sale Display | Desktop Tidy | Musical Greetings Card |
YEAR 8 Units of Work
Textiles | RMT | Design | RMT | Graphics |
Stretchy Hats | Picture Frames | Creative Design | Birdhouse | Cereal Box |
Please click on the appropriate unit for a snapshot of the unit content and portfolio of student outcomes.
YEAR 9 Units of Work
At the end of Year 8 students are given the option to specialise in one of three D&T focus areas. This involves students selecting an area of D&T that they have particularly enjoyed or they are talented at in order to study it in greater depth throughout Year 9. This is an exciting opportunity for students to specialise in one of three areas:
Focus Area | Year 9 Short Course | Appropriate Ks4 Course |
Graphics | This course is ideally suited to students who have chosen to specialise in designing and making with graphic tools and techniques. Students will learn how to:
The course includes several skills based units of work leading to a coursework project and an exam. |
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Textiles | This course is ideally suited to students who have chosen to specialise in designing and making with textile and fabric tools and techniques. Students will learn how to:
The course includes several skills based units of work leading to a coursework project and an exam. |
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RMT | This course is ideally suited to students who have chosen to specialise in designing and making with workshop based tools, machinery and processes using a range of materials. Students will learn how to:
The course includes several skills based units of work leading to a coursework project and an exam. |
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Please click on the appropriate course for more information and portfolio of outcomes.
Progression
Students are taught in a carousel system in Years 7 and 8 ensuring that all students have equal access to the D&T curriculum. Each unit lasts approximately 8 weeks in Years 7 and 8 and include focused practical tasks and design and make activities. Progression through the Key Stage is ensured by the increasing complexity of tasks and skills required to achieve high quality outcomes. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate their overall design and technology capability in Year 9 through their chosen specialism. Year 9 short courses enable students to develop a greater depth of knowledge and understanding which enables the department to award their final National Curriculum level.
Homework
Homework is set each week and usually consists of a research based activity. The department encourages students to use a variety of research sources including the Internet or CD-Roms and some units have specific library based activities. Students should be spending approximately ½ - 1 hour on the majority of homeworks. Completion of homework is monitored and failure to complete homework will result in departmental sanctions.
Assessment
At the end of each unit students are assessed on their designing and making skills resulting in a National Curriculum level that is recorded on their individual ‘Pupil Profile'. This profile is monitored by the Ks3 co-ordinator and HoD to ascertain their progression throughout the Key Stage. Student self assessment is an intrinsic part of the evaluation process of all units.
Click here to see an example of student self assessment
Rewards
Reward certificates are issued once a term. These certificates are specifically issued for outstanding work or progress and operate on three tiers: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The first Bronze certificate can be issued to a student anytime during the academic year. The second (Silver) and final (Gold) certificates can only be issued when the previous tier has been completed. The department keeps records of certificates issued to inform student progress.
At KS3, the department also uses the whole school credit system to encourage positive and appropriate behaviour and standards of work. Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates are issued and records kept centrally in the department.
Click here to see an example of departmental reward certificates