Design and Technology
The DT department staffing includes:
- Mr J De Jong – Lead Teacher of DT
- Mrs K King – Teacher of DT
- Miss L Lovell - Teacher of DT
- Mrs A Howard – Lead Teacher of Food and Nutrition
- Miss J Day - Teacher of Food Technology
As a foundation to the STREAM focus at SST Maidstone, the DT department leads an a practical and engaging curriculum to ensure students develop knowledge and skills in the three pillars of the subject; Engineering, Product Design and Food Technology. Students are challenged to solve problems and follow the making process from design, to prototype and then construction.
The DT department runs clubs during the week: a GreenPower Car club each week with a number of Year 8 and Year 9 students attending alongside older students from elsewhere in the Trust, and a cooking club popular with all year groups. The DT prefects are also extremely busy with various commissions from students and staff alike! Cooking club is led by our prefects and takes place every week. Students have the opportunity to learn from older students; making delicious treats while developing their cooking skills and love for food!
The department has strong collaborative links with other departments, such as:
- Safety in a workplace environment, linked to DT and Science Workshops
- Evaluation of materials, linking to the Science curriculum.
- Linking the learning of Flow Diagrams to Computer Science.
- Healthy eating, linked to Personal Development and Science
Curriculum Intent
- The SST Design and Technology department channels the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of the students to build on their prior knowledge and mixed experience that they have from Primary School.
- During their Design & Technology journey, we instil a desire to achieve precision and quality to design and produce creative, functioning, and consumable, products which solve real world problems.
- Students have the opportunity to develop skills for life and to master them for future careers in related industries. Students apply their understanding, team-work and problem solving skills safely into our continuously evolving world, contributing with social responsibility.
Curriculum Topics
Year 7
- Engineering
- Working with metals
- Electronics
- CAD
- Product Design
- Working with woods
- Isometric drawing
- Wood joints
- Designing for others
- Food & Nutrition
- The Eatwell Guide
- Importance of Eating Fruit and Vegetables
- Food miles
- Food safety
- Knife skills
- Introduction to using equipment
Year 8
- Engineering
- Casting
- Mechanisms
- Orthographic drawing
- 3D CAD
- Problem solving
- Product Design
- Design and sustainability
- Working with woods
- Architecture
- Drawing techniques
- Problem solving
- Food & Nutrition
- Healthy eating
- Macro and Micronutrients
- Adapting recipes
- Understanding food labels
- Using equipment with precision
- Presentation techniques
Year 9
Students will opt for one of three routes:
- Engineering
- Working with metals
- Electronics
- Drawing techniques
- 3D printing
- Design & make tasks
- Product design
- Designing
- Working with woods
- Polymers
- Lighting and metals
- Textiles
- Design & make tasks
- Food & Nutrition
- Using equipment and cooking skills with precision
- Preparing and cooking meat
- Cooking with eggs, doughs & sauces
- Nutritional needs of different groups
- Macro and micronutrients
- Functional and chemical properties of ingredients
Year 10 and Year 11
Students can continue with a GCSE or vocational equivalent in Engineering, Design & Technology (Product Design), or Food Preparation & Nutrition.
Year 12 and Year 13
A Level or Vocational equivalent qualifications in related subjects will available in the Sixth Form at SST, or other schools within the Maidstone Campus.
Transition Information
Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3
Students have a mixed experience of DT from Primary School so we support students where they need it based on their skill levels.
There are opportunities for students to work on their practical skills through extra-curricular clubs as well as lunch time sessions.
Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4
Throughout Key Stage 3, students are encouraged to think about the next stage of their transition, with a Foundation Year in Year 9 allowing students to explore the learning of the different strands of DT in more depth.
During Key Stage 3 and the Year 9 Foundation Year, students are educated on the various routes that DT related subjects can follow as they start to think about future aspirations. There are extra-curricular opportunities for students to join in with such as the GreenPower Car Club and Cooking Club.
Key Stage 4 to Key Stage 5
During KS4, students are given an awareness of the application of DT skills in different areas of life and in different sectors of industry.
Links with Sixth Form students at other schools on the campus allows discussion with KS4 students so they can find out more about aspiration.
Beyond Key Stage 5
Students are given opportunities to look at different routes to study DT related subjects beyond the Sixth form, including employment, apprenticeships, college courses and University courses
Extended Curriculum Opportunities
The DT department runs clubs during the week: a GreenPower Car club each week with a number of Year 8 and Year 9 students attending alongside older students from elsewhere in the Trust, and a cooking club popular with all year groups. The DT prefects are also extremely busy with various commissions from students and staff alike! Cooking club is led by our prefects and takes place every week. Students have the opportunity to learn from older students; making delicious treats while developing their cooking skills and love for food!
