Year 9 Design & Technology

Design and Technology is an exciting and valuable subject which covers a wide range of specialisms and students are exposed to a wealth of resources within Design and Technology. Design and Technology provides important opportunities for students to problem-solve, develop lateral and creative thinking skills, self-manage resources as well as being able to utilise their Maths and Science knowledge in a practical way.

What will my child study in Design & Technology during Year 9?

Students will be able to study 3 specialist areas that are 12 – 13 weeks each. All students will do a multi-materials project and will have a choice of 2 further projects (subject to availability):In Year 9 students will have some freedom to shape their Design and Technology Curriculum depending on their interests.

Food Preparation & Nutrition
D&T - Textiles/Graphics
D&T - Electronics

This will allow students time to prepare for GCSE should they wish to continue with the subject in Year 10 and 11. By experiencing all the material areas, students can gain a better understanding of the properties and uses of the materials that could be used at GCSE. Students have full access to all the resources and equipment in the Faculty and are taught how to operate them safely.

How will my child be assessed and how will I know how well they are doing in D&T in Year 9?

Student’s work is assessed throughout the term with a formal assessment grade at the end of the project.

What homework will my child be expected to do in Year 9 in D&T?

Homework is set every fortnight in Design and Technology. The homework is a task uploaded onto Satchel One (Show my Homework).

How can I support my child to do well in D&T during Year 9?

Students should be encouraged to use a wide range of sources when conducting research tasks. These tasks may involve accessing the internet (this can be done in school or at the local library), conducting questionnaires, looking at books and magazines. Students should be encouraged to study the products around them and analyse them to discover how they have been made and develop an understanding of the materials that have been chosen. Parents should encourage their child to discuss their design ideas for their work at home to help develop their design thinking.
Where students have access to digital cameras, desktop publishing software, or technical drawing and 3D modelling computer packages, parents should encourage their child to develop their skills and understanding of these pieces of software.
The Design Museum in London is worth a visit to explore design thinking and products and to widen their design experience and knowledge of product design. The Science Museum is a valuable place to learn about materials and new technology. The Victoria and Albert Museum often has exciting exhibitions about Fashion and Textiles and designers.
If you are able to access the internet the website www.technologystudent.com has a wealth of resources, information and Design and Technology based activities for students.

What equipment may my child need in addition to the standard school equipment?

Aprons and goggles are provided for students in Design and Technology.
Students must attend all lessons with pencil, ruler, rubber, sharpener and colouring pencils.
Students with long hair will need to have their hair tied back during Design and Technology lessons.
For Health and Safety reasons, it is essential that students wear black leather shoes for all Design and Technology lessons. We cannot allow students into the workshops in canvas shoes or trainers.

By the end of the year, what would an 'expert' be able to do in D&T?

Have a basic understanding of what external factors influence the design and development of products, they are aware of market pull and technology push.
Students will understand the properties of a range of textile materials, polymers, metals, timbers and papers and boards. They will learn how they can be used and why they are suitable for certain products.
Students are able to develop design proposals taking into account most aspects relating to a variety of social, moral, environmental and sustainability issues. It is evident in their work that they have considered maintenance in their product solutions.
Students are able to use a wide range of research techniques in order gather the specific and relevant information they need to make progress with their project. Independently, they are able to write relevant and clear design context which form the backbone of their work.
Students are able to understand and fully understand the role of a design strategy. They are able to generate a range of ideas which show creativity and diversity; further development makes effective use of the research undertaken.
Ideas fully integrate a wide range of influencing factors Modelling is used as a tool to develop their ideas and to help communicate the idea clearly. The quality of communication means the idea is clearly understood using both 3D sketching and detailed annotation.
Students are able to use the available tools and machinery with a high degree accuracy and independence to make a prototype which demonstrates some precision and considers aesthetic appeal.
Students are able to plan how all of their prototype will be made sequentially and the plan includes quality control processes.
Students are able to carry out a range of tests relevant to the materials used and prototype made including evaluation leading to the prototype of the final outcome and is able to show some evidence of testing against the specification and are therefore able to suggest some improvements or modifications to the prototype.
Students are able to follow a wide range of H&S rules and are able to explain why they are important within the environment they are working in.

My child is struggling during the course, what additional help is available to help them keep up?

If your child is struggling in D&T, please ask them to be pro-active during the lesson and speak to the teacher directly for support. We also run after school clubs that can benefit any student that wants additional help.

Updated September 2022