Design and Technology

Our main aim as a department is to provide outstanding education in both design technology and food technology. We nurture individual pupil’s needs so they can achieve academic success. We balance the practical and theoretical aspects to ensure students develop experimental expertise and secure a solid level of knowledge. This is a specific focus during assessment periods, including mock exams, whereby revision lessons are built in, to the scheme of learning, prior to the exam and a reflection time in the lessons afterwards for pupils to analyse their performance.

Within the department we have two design technology workshops and one specialist food room where pupils take pride and engage in practical activities, we also have a classroom with CAD/CAM facilities where theory and design lesson take place. All rooms are well equipped with internet access, projectors and specialist equipment. Students at KS3 currently have one technology lesson per week and work on a carousel swapping every half term between food technology and design technology. This provides opportunities to explore all aspects of technology and develop practical skills that can be further developed at KS4. Pupils are invited to build their resilience and take advantage of our extra-curricular activities which comprise of KS4 intervention lessons, design club and a KS3 cooking club both of which take place during P7 lessons.

At Ks4 pupils embark on their GCSE journey. Pupils can continue their studies in either design technology or food technology following courses from the Eduqas exam board. At KS4 pupils have 3 lessons per week were at least one of these lessons is a practical. Both GCSEs are split into two components; controlled assessment and an exam which are each worth 50% of the final GCSE grade.

Success at GCSE design technology enables students to progress to further education at college and university which enables pupils to follow a career in product design, trades in joinery and electronics and engineering, to name but a few. Food preparation and nutrition at GCSE also leads to further education at college and university. Pupils can follow careers in food science, food technology, food product design, head chef and working in restaurants and many more.

Food Preparation and Nutrition – The WJEC Eduqas GCSE

Equips learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It encourages learners to cook, nables them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition and allows them to acquire knowledge in order to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life.

Design and Technology – The WJEC Eduqas GCSE

Offers a unique opportunity in the curriculum for learners to identify and solve real problems by designing and making products or systems. Through studying GCSE Design and technology, learners will be prepared to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world; and be aware of, and learn from, wider influences on design and technology, including historical, social/cultural, environmental and economic factors.

The Oldershaw School
Valkyrie Road, Wallasey
Wirral CH45 4RJ
T: 0151 638 2800 E: schooladmin@oldershaw.wirral.sch.uk Executive Headteacher: Mr S Fisher