Design & Technology
The girls say: "Design and Technology at St Catherine’s School is brilliant" and I agree! Design and Technology will help you to become an autonomous and creative problem solver. The combination of practical skills and an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices will allow you to evaluate past and present Design and Technology, its uses and effects.
Through Design and Technology, you will become innovators as well as discriminating and informed users of products. It enables you to:
- Understand how Design and Technology affects our lives
- Contribute to the use and development of technology in our society through informed participation
- Relate your personal experiences to the work of commerce and industry
Above all Design and Technology is interesting, exciting and really good fun!
Staff List
Mr Alastair White - Head of Department
email: alastair.white@stcatherines.info
Alastair White joined St Catherine’s School in 1999 as Head of Department. He worked in several schools prior to this and held posts of Design and Technology Teacher and Head of House. He has also worked for IBM computers and worked as a Director on the Educational Trust Board at the Institute of Structural Engineers. He is passionate about Design and Technology and keen to promote Engineering, Product Design and Architecture to the girls. He assists with the Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions and often helps the Sailing Team prepare for the Surrey Schools Sailing Regattas.
Mr David Downman
email: David.Downman@stcatherines.info
David joined St Catherine's in 2014 and prior to this he was a teacher at a school in Perth, Western Australia, where he lived for a number of years. His previous occupation was as a Draughtsman, and the experience he has gained whilst teaching Design and Technology at a variety of schools, has enabled him to gain a great understanding of a range of computer programs. In his time outside school, he is a keen squash player and enjoys walking his dogs whenever possible.
Mr Will Sage
email: will.sage@stcatherines.info
Will joined St Catherine's as a Computing and ICT teacher, along with teaching in the Design Technology department. He studied Product Design Technology at the University of the West of England, followed by a graduate position at Bradfield College in Design. In his free time he enjoys cycling, card games and 3D printing.
Mr. Geoff Woodfine - Department Technician
Curriculum - A Level
Examination Board: AQA
Why study Design & Technology Product Design?
Studying D&T enables you to get to grips with social and environmental issues surrounding the use of the materials of our world in a way that is practical, thought provoking and intellectually challenging. D&T is a rapidly growing subject; some students choose D&T because it fits well with their Science courses, others because it gives them a valuable life-experience in managing a truly personal project across long timescales.
Course Content
- The A level course has two main elements, the theory preparation for the examination and a non-examined (coursework) assessment (NEA). This will be a substantial iterative project with a portfolio of supporting design work. You will be required to undertake a project based on a need or opportunity of your choice.
- The project will hopefully address some need for improvement in the world.
- Originality, spontaneity and a willingness to take risks (not too many!) are all really important. New technologies such as electronics will be incorporated into your project as required.
- The content of the written paper is taught separately to your project work, but where possible you will study the theory work through practical activities.
Assessment
- 2 Written Examination Papers: One 1.5 hrs, one 2.5 hrs (50%)
- Coursework: 1 Major Project (50%)
Curriculum - GCSE
The GCSE course is a 2 year course, following the AQA Design & Technology Specification.
Throughout the 2 years the girls will undertake a couple of projects aimed at developing their design and technology skills. We concentrate on the areas of design that will be needed in the Controlled Assessment Project that follows.
The course is an exciting and thought provoking course and the girls particularly enjoy the challenges of running their own individual project in the U5.
LOWER 5
L5 starts straight away with an individual project. They are given design freedom and are asked to design and make an experimental project, often themed around children’s games, there is a need to specify a brief, plan for modelling, and then make a prototype using hand methods.
On completion of the group project the girls then move on to studying some theory elements of the course, from design history through to material science. At this point the girls are introduced to the Controlled Assessment Project and they begin the design portfolio for this element of the course. The module content includes:
- Project planning at GCSE level, including an introduction to individual project work
- Use of design folders at GCSE level
- Understanding assessment against marking criteria
- Application of design methodology
- Issues involved in time-managing large scale projects
- Techniques of manufacture applicable to GCSE coursework
- Further use of Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Appreciating the central place of CAD and CAM in modern manufacturing
UPPER 5
During the Autumn term the girls will spend most of their lessons designing and then making their individual projects for the Controlled Assessment. This is a big project to undertake, and the girls follow a set of design briefs provided by the examinations board. It is very exciting and the girls thoroughly enjoy the work.
On completion of the project we then move in to examination preparation mode and revision of all of the theory elements of the course.
Curriculum - KS3
U3
PROJECT 1 - STEADY HAND GAME
In this project the U3 use wood metals and some simple electronics to manufacture a small hand-held game. An emphasis is placed on hand-work; learning to use basic tools and equipment in a workshop context. The module content includes:
- Safe use of the Vibrosaw to cut out an individually designed backboard
- Achieving accuracy and good surface finish when working timber and thermoplastics using hand methods
- Using a jig to produce repeatable accuracy when hot-bending thermoplastics
- Understanding special safety requirements when soldering electronic components and when using very sharp cutting tools (e.g. scalpels)
- Principles of freehand sketching using orthographic and isometric projections
PROJECT 2 – FRAME PROJECT
This project is aimed at advancing the girls woodworking skills, in particular looking at quality of finish and working accurately. The body of the tree is made from birch ply wood and the frames are MDF. The girls will be introduced to CNC machines during the manufacture of the photo frames. The module content includes:
- Using manmade boards to manufacture a wooden (2D) tree shape
- Using the CNC Router to produce the heart shape ‘photo frames’
- Using a range of hand and machine tools and understanding related safety issues
- Working accurately to produce a high quality artefact.
L4
PROJECT 1 - CLOCKS
One of our most popular projects! In Lower 4, girls are allowed a free choice of theme for a personal product. Working within given limits of size and complexity, a clock is designed to a chosen theme. The module content includes:
- Using CAD to design and model a simple consumer product
- Understanding how an individually designed product can be related aesthetically to a movement or person
- Translating research material into sketch ideas and models within a given design context
- Appreciating how digital data from a CAD program can be used to drive a laser cutter
- Using a range of hand and machine tools and understanding related safety issues
- Using modelling materials to anticipate the final design and construction of a product
PROJECT 2 – JEWELLERY
This project has been running for several years now, previously in the U4 but now in the L4. It gives the girls the opportunity to see how materials are pre-prepared using machines and then assembled in class. The main Jewellery box is manufactured in this way and then the girls have a ‘free reign’ to design their own piece of Pewter Jewellery which they then cast in a mould. The module content includes:
- Manufacture of a small jewellery box using machine methods
- Learning how to apply a high level of surface finish to wood
- Using clear casting resin in conjunction with a chosen decorative product
- Designing and manufacturing a piece of jewellery using a low-melt alloy
U4
PROJECT 1 – LIGHT PICTURE
This is probably our most popular and certainly our most challenging project. It splits neatly into two halves. The hardwood base containing the control electronics is a heavily taught piece of technical work. The light picture itself is a free choice image, with all the experimental design completed by the girls. Once these two aspects are combined, the results are stunning. The module content includes:
- Learning how to apply a high level of surface finish to wood
- Developing a personal project using high powered LED’s in conjunction with acrylic
- Understanding the use of resistors to limit current in a made circuit
- Using jigs and machinery to achieve repeatable accuracy when manufacturing a product
- Understanding the advantages of encapsulating consumer electronics
PROJECT 2 – CNC PROJECT
This is a new project that was introduced in 2018. It involves the design and manufacture of a CNC constructed individual project . The girls are given lots of guidance on how to design an aesthetically pleasing functional project that they can use, possibly including LEDs and some basic electronics to enhance the final piece. The module content includes:
- Developing design ideas
- CAD Design of the components
- Manufacturing an individual project
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