Design & Technology : home Design and Technology prepares our pupils to participate in tomorrow’s rapidly changing technologies. They learn to think and intervene creatively to improve the quality of life. As our students progress to A Level, the subject calls for them to become autonomous and creative problem-solvers, as individuals and as members of a team. They must look for needs, wants and opportunities and respond to them by developing a range of ideas and making products and systems. They combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices. As they do so, they reflect on and evaluate present and past design and technology, its issues and effects. Through Design and Technology, all our students can become discriminating and informed users of products as well as become innovators. StaffMr Alan Dickey (Head of Department) Mr Andrew McCrea Facilities and ResourcesManufacturing roomsOne of the rooms is brand new and all are equipped with a full range of wood, metal and plastics machinery as well as a CNC router and CNC cutters. Planning roomsOne of the rooms is equipped with high-specification Pentium 4 PCs. It has a colour A3 printer, monochrome laser printer and a high-resolution colour scanner as well as a CNC lathe and CNC milling machine. Systems roomIt is equipped with similar computer equipment found in the ICT planning room. Pneumatics, computer control ‘Smart’ boxes, mechanical and electronic simulation software packages are just some of the facilities available to all students who study Technology. A data projector is used during lessons for PowerPoint, showing videos/DVDs from our extensive library and for demonstrating CAD or electronic simulation software. Systems and materials storesBoth of these rooms are very well resourced with all the necessary supplies for teaching KS3 to A Level. Exhibition hallThis is an invaluable resource to the department. GCSE, AS and A Level work is exhibited on a regular basis in 2D and 3D form. A glass showcase exhibits much of the KS3 work that is undertaken. |