Design Technology | Unity Academy Blackpool

At Unity, we aim to provide children with engaging and imaginative learning activities that develop a range of practical skills, whilst nurturing creativity, resilience and innovation through research, exploration, designing, making and evaluating. Projects enable pupils to explore and understand the real world and to be inspired and challenged by it. This gives the children opportunities to make decisions, solve problems, develop life skills and an appreciation of how products, engineers, designers, chefs and architects create our world and the things we use in it.

Over the years the students learn about how Design and Technology plays a part in the way we live, both today and in the future. They also explore how we use both traditional and modern Smart materials and the tools, techniques and equipment used with them. They have more opportunity than ever to learn about the Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Technologies.

The knowledge and experience gained by the students during the Key Stages are built on each year. The students work in all D&T areas up to the end of Year 8, but from the start of Year 9 they have the option of choosing a more specialist course of either Textiles or Product Design.

Graphics

This course aims to give our students an introduction to Designing and Making using graphic materials and processes. They will learn how to work to a design brief which will outline a starting point to be investigated and researched. Our students will develop their computer aided drawing skills to develop their designs and use modelling before making and testing prototypes and evaluating the making process. Throughout, they will record research and design developments by creating a portfolio which will include photographs and other digital media.

Our students are actively encouraged to engage in the processes of Design and Technology to develop as effective and independent learners. They will:

Make decisions, consider sustainability and combine skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make quality products.

Explore ways in which aesthetic, technical, economic, environmental, ethical and social dimensions interact to shape designing and making.

Analyse existing products and produce practical solutions to needs, wants and opportunities, recognising their impact on the quality of life

Develop decision-making skills through individual and collaborative working.

Understand that designing and making reflect and influence cultures and societies, and that products have an impact on lifestyle.

Develop skills of creativity and critical analysis through making links between the principles of good design, existing solutions and technological knowledge.

Exam information 2021-22

Textiles Design

AQA

8200

Unit 1: 8204/C

Unit 2: 8204/X - N/A this year

Technical Award in Graphic Design Level 2

NCFE

603/0845/X

Unit 1: T/615/3956
Unit 2: A/615/3957
Unit 3:
F/615/3958
Unit 4:
J/615/3959

Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Constructing the Built Environment

WJEC