Curriculum Intent


“Our curriculum aims to encourage problem solving skills and a lifelong passion for design. We aim to do this by sowing the seed for critical and creative thinking through embedding a love of designing, making, and providing the opportunity
for reflective practice.”




Curriculum Implementation



Key Stage 3 – Years 7, 8 and 9

Key Stage 4 – Years 10 and 11

Key Stage 5 – Years 12 and 13


  • Year 7 students undertake 3 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight and the curriculum operates a rotation consisting of Manufacturing unit, Food & Nutrition unit and Packaging unit being taught across one term
    each. Staff stay with their groups.

  • Year 8 students undertake 3 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight with the curriculum again operating a rotation consisting of a Manufacturing unit, Cultural food unit and Creative Design unit being taught across
    one term each. Staff stay with their groups.

  • Year 9 students undertake 2 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight. The curriculum focuses on providing students with opportunities to undertake a small number of units including a mechanisms unit, manufacturing
    unit, CAD unit and creative design unit. Students opt for GCSE choices towards the end of the spring term. 

  • Year 9 students also have the option to undertake 3 x 60 minute lessons of Food & Nutrition per fortnight. 


  • Year 10 students undertake 4 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight. Different material areas continue to be introduced in Year 10, building on the previous content. Further theoretical aspects underpin students’
    choices across many of the taught units.

  • Year 11 students undertake 4 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight. Students will undertake 1 x 60 minute lesson per fortnight with a focus solely on the exam content. The other 3 lessons students undertake a major
    design and make Non-Exam Assessment (NEA), project managing a design from conception to creation before sitting their GCSE exams in the summer term.


  • Year 12 students undertake 11 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight with classes typically around 8 – 12 students. A number of design and make units are undertaken in Yr 12 to upskill and cement KS3 and KS4 skills.
    Students undertake Theory Topics 1 – 6 and will start their NEA in the Spring Term.

  • Year 13 students undertake 11 x 60 minute lessons per fortnight. Students will complete Theory Topics 7 – 12 in Year 13 and work towards realisation of their NEA. Students then complete their A Level examination
    in the Summer Term.




Curriculum Impact


Our curriculum impact can be evidenced through; assessment and progress of work in both written and verbal content, students’ subject enthusiasm both inside and outside of the classroom, sustained classes and option numbers at KS4
and KS5, attainment of students following external examinations.


Assessment

  • KS3 (Year 7,8 & 9): We use both workbooks to build students’ knowledge and google classroom to set and assess work throughout the course. Design & make activities, as well as focused tasks will be assessed.
  • KS4 (GCSE Yr 10 & 11): Work will be assessed through practice papers, physical outcomes, workbooks or collected via google classroom for NEA. We follow the
    AQA 8552 Product Design Specification. 

  • KS5 (A level, Year 12 & 13): Students have workbooks where work will be assessed, practice papers and used alongside google classroom for some aspects such as collection of NEA. We follow the
    Edexcel 9DT0 Product Design Specification.




Teaching Staff


Mr G Roscoe

Mrs E Jooste

Mr J Miller

Ms C Mottram

Ms C Sington



Curriculum Contacts


For further specific information about the curriculum please email:

Mrs J Garrett – 
jessica.garrett@calday.co.uk

Head of Faculty, Communication and Creative

Mr G Roscoe – 
graham.roscoe@calday.co.uk

Curriculum Leader, Art, Graphics, D&T, Food & Nutrition

For additional information please see the National Curriculum on the DfE website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum




Learning Journey