Design and Technology (Product Design) is an inspiring and challenging subject. It gives young people the skills and abilities to engage positively with the designed and made world and to harness the benefits of technology. With coursework tailored to the needs of the individual and a resource bank full of useful aids and ideas to enable students to make the most of their studies and have the best possible chance of success, the Technologies department provides a lively and dynamic environment in which students have the confidence to create innovative ideas and the capability to bring their ideas to life.
Consider the room you are stood in, the graphics on the paper you hold in your hand or the chair you are sat on. All of these items have been carefully planned, researched, designed and manufactured with a user in mind in order to solve a specific design problem. By studying Design and Technology at Bridgewater School, students are able to build up their creativity, problem solving, planning and evaluation skills. Since some tasks and projects are also done via group work, students will also gain valuable communication and teamwork skills.
Key Stage 3
In Years 7, 8 and 9, students study Design and Technology for two periods a fortnight on a rotation system, developing workshop skills through the use of tools and machinery in the DT room, and using the ICT suite to create graphic outcomes (CAD), sketching and completing research assignments.
GCSE Design & Technology
Through studying GCSE Design and Technology, pupils will be prepared to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world; be aware of, and learn from, wider influences on design and technology, including historical, social / cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will learn how to be innovative and to make creative use of a variety of resources including digital technologies, to improve the world around them.
The Cambridge IGCSE course, which allows students to freely create their own design problems and solutions without limitations, is a single GCSE qualification. Both the exam papers and controlled assessment are completed in Year 11.
Design & Technology opens the door to a wide range of careers in the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. The knowledge and skills developed throughout the course, which will include initiative, enquiry, teamwork, time management and the communication skills central to the design process, are extremely valuable and highly prized by employers.
