Design and Technology
Design and Technology
Facilities: The Design and Technology Department is accommodated in a purpose built facility, consisting of two spacious rooms for delivering different aspects of the subject, connected by a third room with ICT facilities.
The first room, for Food and Textiles activities, is laid out as five self contained kitchen areas, each fully equipped with cooker, microwave, sink and a wide selection of utensils and equipment. Other areas of this room provide facilities for research and planning, as well as textiles activities. There is an interactive whiteboard and a computer.
This photos show a group of pupils engaged in a cooking activity, taught by link teachers from Zambia. This cooking activity is one experience in the project "Food Around the World".
The second room is where pupils experience construction and control activities, including using hand and machine tools to process wood, plastic and other materials, and learn how to construct mechanical and electronic systems. They also develop their graphical and designing skills. Pupils make use of construction kits like LEGO, and specialist computer programmes to help them with their designing. There is a computer and interactive whiteboard here also.
The photo is of a pupil designing a poster to encourage wildlife conservation in Msoro, Zambia. Swanmead has a link with St Luke's School there.
This photo shows a pupil using electric fretsaw to cut a section of wood.
The two rooms are connected by a doorway, and also by a third area, containing a suite of computers to allow pupils to research, design and evaluate their products effectively. This allows teachers in both areas to collaborate and for the pupils to access both areas simultaneously when appropriate.
The rooms are bright and spacious, and contain displays of designs and made products to inspire the pupils.
Staff: The D&T team consists of Mr Robert McLaughlin (subject leader) and Mrs Jane Hawkins (Food and Textiles); Mr Les Tanner supports some lessons in both areas and teaches a Year 5 group. Mr Michael Moore is the D&T Technician. A number of volunteers also support in several lessons.
About the Subject: The aim of Design and Technology is to develop confidence and competence in a range of designing and making skills. This is achieved by giving the pupils design tasks requiring them to plan and make a solution, mainly of a practical nature; the material may include food, textiles, wood, plastic, card, graphics, mechanical systems or electronics components. The subject is popular with pupils, who enjoy the challenge of designing and making products which they can take home.
Each pupil has two periods of Design and Technology per week.
There are opportunities for pupils to take part in D&T Club, Cooking Club and Lego Club some lunchtimes, and in extra curricular activities such as the Flying Start Challenge (Which the School won in 2010) and the Rotary Clubs Tournament. The photos below show pupils engaged in these challenges.
