and Technology department at Chigwell offers a broad and exciting curriculum that aims to develop pupils’ knowledge and awareness of product design and technology in society. Throughout Key Stage 3 pupils study the dominant areas of Design and Technology, and by the Remove year all pupils possess a clear understanding of aesthetics, ergonomics, the design process, graphical communication techniques, materials, structures, electronics, mechanisms, contemporary and past designers, product marketing and industrial production methods. At GCSE and A Level pupils have the opportunity to further develop and refine their skills in relation to their own areas of interest.

Key Stage Three:
The emphasis at Key Stage Three is to introduce pupils to resistant materials and workshop processes in relation to the topic areas mentioned above. Focusing on wood, metal and plastic, pupils learn how to shape, form, assemble and finish products that they have designed. In Year 7 pupils learn how to safely use basic tools and machinery, experience working with all three materials groups and gain a sound understanding of the design process. Current projects include a Sign Design project with a CAD/CAM focus, a wind chime project with an emphasis on high quality graphics work, an Exciting Lighting project with a focus on aesthetics and plastic forming and a group Structural Challenge where pupils learn and apply knowledge of structural design. Each project is concluded with a Unit Test relating to the theoretical aspects within each project.

GCSE:
At GCSE level pupils follow the AQA Resistant Materials syllabus. Each pupil has the opportunity to develop their own design concepts relating to a choice of 12 given contexts. The coursework project forms 60% of the final GCSE grade consists of a 20 page A3 design folder. This folder of work encourages pupils to explore existing products, anthropometrics, materials and a range of design ideas. The designed product is then developed through modelling and then realised into a full scale working product. In addition, pupils learn theoretical knowledge relating to application of materials, industrial production techniques and many other aspects of design and technology in society. This prepares them for their written examination which forms the remaining 40% of their GCSE grade. Over the last 5 years the Design and Technology department at Chigwell have achieved some excellent GCSE results, with all candidates in 2008 gaining an A or A* grade for the coursework component of the course.

A Level:
A level Design and Technology students follow the OCR Product Design syllabus. In the AS year, students take two units, a Product Study worth 60% and an Advanced Innovation Challenge which forms the remaining 40% of their final grade. The Product Study calls for students to re-design a product of their choice to improve its ergonomic, aesthetic or safety features. Accompanied by a 20 page design folder, this project has a dominant focus on product stylization and understanding of target audience. The Advanced Innovation Challenge encourages creative thought, innovative responses and application of design based knowledge. Based on a theme set by the examination board, this component of the course requires students to research an area in a design context, and then design and model a concept product relating to the theme in a 6 hour examined session. This component concludes with a separate 1 hour examination paper that asks students to reflect on their design concept through an industrial lens.

The A2 course offers students the opportunity to design and make a marketable, working product of their choice. Each student is required to produce an accompanying 25 page coursework folder that fully demonstrates their designing, making and evaluation skills, using creativity, flair and innovation. The A2 course also demands high quality products that solve the original problem specified by each student.

At Chigwell, the majority of AS and A2 students achieve notable grades, with 100% of candidates achieving A and B grades in 2008.



In Year 8 pupils build upon their accumulated skills by following more advanced project work. This year group currently commences with a slightly more technological focus, with pupils learning about electronics by designing and making an amplifier for MP3 players. This is followed by a mechanisms project where they design and make a mechanical toy using cams, pulleys and levers. Year 8 concludes with a creativity driven project that involves pupils studying an established designer of their choice and designing a product that reflects the signature style of the designer in question. Once again each project develops graphical communication skills and ends with a Unit Test to consolidate knowledge.

The Remove year offers pupils a greater level of choice. Pupils have more freedom to develop their own design briefs and design and make projects to their own specifications. Pupils are also given the opportunity to use a wider range of tools and processes. Current projects include a marketing based Packaging and Sales Display project, an aesthetics based candle holder project and an exciting group Dragon’s Den project. The latter focuses on batch production techniques; each group has to design, make and launch their batch of desired products to a team of ‘Dragons’ in an assembly forum. In summary, Design and Technology in Years 7, 8 and 9 teaches pupils a vast range of skills and workshop processes and aims to fully prepare them for the GCSE course.



If you have any questions regarding the Design and Technology department at Chigwell School, please contact Mrs Nicola Jermyn, Mr Richard Parry or Mr Ron Rees.

njermyn@chigwell-school.org
rparry@chigwell-school.org
brees@chigwell-school.org