Design Technology
The Design & Technology department at Faringdon Community College is a successful department which is committed to delivering a modern and engaging curriculum, providing a broad range of knowledge, skills, understanding and opportunities for all students using a wide variety of activities. We have high expectations of all our learners and lead by example, ensuring work is completed to the best of their ability whilst allowing students to be creative and take risks in a safe and positive learning environment. The overall aim is to build confidence, allowing students to become independent thinkers, innovators and problem solvers who are self motivated and can also work successfully as part of a team. Within each subject of Design and Technology, students design and make products, developing their knowledge and practical capability, that solve relevant and real problems as well as providing a well-thought-out design solution within a variety of contexts and material areas, such as Food, Metals and Alloys, Paper and Board, Textiles, Timbers and Polymers.
Students achieve well in Design and Technology, gaining 'real world' skills, whilst developing independent thinking and problem-solving skills with an increased knowledge of the technologies present in the world in which they live. Students enjoy improving their designing and crafting skills, working safely and confidently as individuals and also as part of a team, while developing transferable skills they can enjoy in school and use in their future working lives.
Key Stage 3
In Year 7 and Year 8, all students have 5 hours a fortnight and rotate across the different subjects within D & T, spending approximately 8 weeks in each subject area. Students have the opportunity to work in the specialist rooms and material areas each year. In Year 9, students spend approximately 10 weeks in 3 subject areas which students select at the end of Year 8 to deepen knowledge and skills further in preparation for GCSE.
Year 7
| Discipline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Electronics | Flashing LED Memo Holder |
| Food | Coleslaw, Vegetable Frittatas, Flapjacks, Scones, Apple Crumble, Sausage Plait |
| Textiles | Recycled Monster |
| Product Design | A Desk Tidy |
| Mechanisms | Moving Toy |
Year 8
| Discipline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Food | Pasta Bake, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Stir-fry, Chicken Curry, Fish Cakes, Mini Treacle Tarts |
| Textiles | Punk-themed Pencil Case |
| Product Design | Clock |
| Graphics | Villa Project |
Year 9
| Discipline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Food | Savoury Rice, Stuffed Crust Pizza, Mini Quiche, Swiss Roll, Bread and Butter Pudding |
| Textiles | Tattoo inspired Bag |
| Product Design | Hardwood box with Pewter casting |
| Engineering | Metal Work |
Key Stage 4 and 5
There are a variety of courses on offer, including AQA D & T GCSE Textiles, Graphics and Product Design, WJEC Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE, Level 1/2 Engineering and WJEC Level 1/2 Hospitality and Catering. All D & T GCSE courses involve practical "design and make" controlled tasks (NEAs), which are completed in Year 11 and comprise 50% coursework and 50% exam.
Courses offered in the Sixth Form include Ed Excel Product Design A-Level, AQA Textiles and Fashion A-Level and WJEC Level 3 Food Science and Nutrition.