In Design Technology, students combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs. They learn to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments. They learn to think creatively to improve quality of life, solving problems as individuals and members of a team.

Students learn about social, moral and cultural developments within the main subject content. Within this there are links to careers, current and past designers and the history of Design Technology, along with the advancements made with new and emerging technologies. Within the Food element of Design Technology and in the Year 10 & 11 Level 2 Vocational Hospitality and Catering award, students will look at the definition of cuisine and the features and characteristics of cuisine of Britain and other countries and cultures. 

As a department we cover the National Curriculum aims below utilising a range of practical and theoretical activities and schemes of learning. 

• develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world
• build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users
• critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others
• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook

After making the transition from primary to secondary school, students continue on their learning journey in Design Technology and we encourage students to reach their potential in a wide variety of activities. This ensures that students thrive within their lessons and receive a high level of challenge. Enjoyment is at the core of all lessons and students will show resilience through engaging tasks both theory and practical based and a variety of teaching approaches. 

Through Years 7-9 students will partake in a range of projects that challenge them with a multitude of specialist areas of Design Technology. They develop both theoretical and practical skills, knowledge and experiences working with a wide variety of materials, techniques and processes. Projects will see students on a journey through the worlds of graphics, electronic systems and control, textiles, product design, resistant materials and food. 

In Design Technology, students' learning journey consists of learning and developing basic knowledge and skills, such as health and safety within the department, tool/equipment choice, usage and techniques. In Years 7 and 8 Students will complete small projects which follow the design cycle that enables them to learn, develop and then recap skills such as; design styles, food choices and knife skills, hand sewing, graphic design and working with resistant materials. As students continue their Design Technology journey they will develop their skills and learn how to use a variety of hand and machine powered equipment. Students will constantly revisit and expand on skills learnt from Year 7. This approach allows all students to be learning new skills straight away as they start at Whitworth Community High School no matter of their prior experience. 

Students in Year 8 have one lesson of Design Technology and one food lesson per week. In which they will continue to build upon the skills and techniques taught throughout Year 7 to help them understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health and become competent in a range of cooking techniques through cooking a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes. They will also look at the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients.

In Year 9 Design Technology students build upon existing design knowledge and learn a variety of 2D approaches to generate creative design ideas and develop and communicate these ideas using annotated sketches, detailed plans and 3D mathematical modelling. They will develop the skills to use more specialist tools, techniques, processes, equipment and machinery precisely, including computer-aided manufacture. They will also understand how more advanced mechanical systems used in their products enable changes in movement and force and how electrical and electronic systems can be powered and used in their products. 

During Years 10 and 11 students will build upon the skills and knowledge learnt to challenging their learning with more complex projects and knowledge. Students follow the AQA Design Technology Specification. In Year 10 students work on a variety of projects to embed knowledge learnt throughout the course. In Year 11 students will complete their non exam assessment as set out by AQA, as well as continuing to cover subject knowledge as well as recapping and revising content throughout the GCSE. 

The Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering has been designed to support learners in schools who want to learn about this vocational sector and the potential it can offer them for their careers or further study. It is most suitable as a foundation for further study. This further study would provide learners with the opportunity to develop a range of specialist and general skills that would support their progression to employment.

Unit 1 enables learners to gain and develop comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the hospitality and catering industry including provision, health and safety, and food safety.

Unit 2 enables learners to develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the importance of nutrition and how to plan nutritious menus. They will learn the skills needed to prepare, cook and present dishes. They will also learn how to review their work effectively.

Design Technology is assessed with a variety of summative and formative assessments. At the beginning of Year 7 students have a baseline assessment and then an end of year assessment, In Years 8 & 9 end of year assessments. In Y10 and 11 students have fortnightly assessments to recap and revisit prior knowledge to help build upon and develop their understanding of the subject content. All students have a formative assessment termly, as well as summative assessments linked with project work undertaken.