Design and Technology – Resistant Materials: Developing creative design and quality manufacture.
Brymore students have achieved outstanding results in their Design and Technology GCSE, making us one of the highest achieving schools in Somerset for the subject area and stretching students to achieve to their full potential.
Design and Technology is a core part of the curriculum, which aims to equip students with qualities and experiences that will be applicable in a wide variety of contexts in their life after school. A wide range of practical skills are learnt in a variety of materials areas, giving students the opportunities to learn skills that they would not be able to develop to the same level at other schools. We emphasise the importance of independent thinking and learning as well as the designing and making skills that are taught in our well-equipped workshops.
Technology at Brymore in Year 7 and 8
The expectations within Technology at Brymore are very high, we wish to allow every boy the chance of being able to create a signature piece in Yr 11 when they take their final GCSE qualification. In order to get the best from each individual the Year 7 course is aimed at ‘Investigation’. Time is spent learning about and using the range of tools, machines and materials we have on offer. The building blocks for creative designing are established and we try to instil an independent approach that will allow each boy to do his very best.
We start with some baseline assessment tasks which look at the boys designing and workshop skills. Then over the course of the year boys will complete a softwood box, a metal candle sconce and an acrylic badge. Each of these projects will also have smaller, simpler tasks associated with them to build confidence and skill levels. The focus is very much on helping boys to gain their understanding by doing. Alongside the workshops, we will work in the classroom to reinforce the practical learning by developing drawing techniques, exploring the design process and looking at design history.
The aim is to create confident boys who can hone their skills and contribute positively to the world around them.
Technology at Brymore in Year 9
It is important that the boys coming into Technology at Brymore in year 9 are given the chance to experience our range of workshops quickly so that they are fully prepared for their GCSE work in year 10. The emphasis is on ‘Autonomy’, we expect the boys to raise their game and begin the process of becoming independent, resourceful and trustworthy students in all aspects of the workshops and theory lessons.
Following their baseline assessment tasks which are designed to show us what they are capable of, the boys will complete practical tasks in Metal (nutcrackers), Plastic (clip) and Wood (box). These projects are supported with design drawing lessons and the use of CAD. Towards the end of the course these skills build to allow the boys a chance to develop their individual styles with open ended challenges such as the Mechanism project and the Desk lamp.
It is an intensive programme that is demanding for the boys, with the correct approach it should prepare them for the rigours of GCSE and beyond.
Technology at Brymore for GCSE
Expectations are high. Brymore boys have a long standing reputation for producing high quality products. The final year GCSE projects always make an impressive display of imaginative design, organised working and attention to detail.
EXAM BOARD:Edexcel.
How many exams do I take and when?
40% Final exam – taken in the Summer of yr11.
60% Major Project & A3 Design portfolio – completed during yr11.
Engineering
This could be the course for those who enjoy the more technical aspects of the workshops such as precision measurement, quality manufacture and industry standard production. Students need to use maths and science in the study of metallurgy, whilst paying close attention to detail in technical drawings and showing understanding of how Industrial practices affect an engineer’s work, ( for example the health & safety laws or an overview of life beyond school as an engineer). Students time will be divided between classroom theory and rigorous development of high grade hand fitting skills in the workshops.
What will the Engineering course be like?The course we run at Brymore is highly challenging and students do need to be able to cope with the academic pressures of the theory elements as well as being prepared to hone practical skill level to industry standards.
EXAM BOARD: EAL – Level 2 Certificate in Engineering Technology
This course can be achieved at Pass/Merit/Distinction.
How many exams do I take and when?
Unit 1: Engineering Environment Awareness – Industrial Organisations.
Unit 2: Engineering Techniques – Technical Drawing & ICT.
Unit3 : Engineering Principles – Materials, Numeracy & Science.
Unit 17: Hand Fitting & Assembly Techniques – Interpretation of drawings,
precise manufacture, checking & reporting on finished components
A more detailed course breakdown for GCSE can be found here
Head of Design and Technology – Mr D Allibone