Design & Technology
at Bishop Perowne Church of England College
Intent
In Design and Technology, our intent is to inspire creativity, innovation, and practical problem-solving.
We aim to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding required to design and produce purposeful, functional products that address real and relevant problems across a variety of contexts.
Key Stages 3 & 4
KS3
At Key Stage 3, we deliver a spiral curriculum built around our four core Pillars of Learning: Design, Make, Evaluate and Technical Knowledge.
These pillars are revisited each year with increasing complexity and depth, allowing students to build on prior learning and develop a strong foundation.
This framework aims to give students a broad range of experiences and skills, enabling them to make informed subject choices in preparation for Key Stage 4.
KS4
Within our Key Stage 4 provision, there are three GCSE qualifications on offer. Students can choose to continue studying Design and Technology or move into more specialised areas. If your child is interested in Design and Technology at Key Stage 4, please stay on this page. If they are interested in Fashion and Textiles or 3D Design, head over to those pages to find out more.
DT – Design and Technology
Students engage in a range of design contexts and learning units to prepare for their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) project. This qualification involves a design-and-make NEA portfolio, where students follow the design process in response to a context set by the exam board.
This provides extensive opportunities to design, make and evaluate, while also developing a theoretical understanding of materials and processes. This theoretical knowledge underpins the technical component of their Year 11 written examination.
Assessment & Lessons
Formative assessment is embedded in lessons through the use of ‘show me’ boards, quizzes, and interactive activities to continuously monitor understanding.
Summative assessments are conducted in the spring and summer terms, consisting of written tests in the style of AQA GCSE examination papers to familiarise students with assessment expectations.
Enrichment & Co-curricular
We are committed to offering a knowledge-rich curriculum that extends beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to take part in a wide range of enrichment and co-curricular opportunities, such as:
- Mazak Industrial Cadets work experience programme
- Educational visits, such as IKEA
- CAD/CAM Club
- Textiles Club
- Workshop and studio time
These experiences are designed to deepen understanding, broaden horizons and develop practical, transferable skills. We actively promote diversity and inclusivity, encouraging students from all backgrounds to engage with and pursue Design and Technology as a subject of choice.
