Technology
Design and Technology
Context
Design and Technology is a subject that transforms: it allows pupils to learn about designing solutions to improve people’s lives, enables them to make better decisions and allows them to understand the impact of their ideas and designs on the wider world. There are many transferable life skills taught in Technology which goes far beyond teaching pupils how to be creative with materials.
Technology is constantly changing and evolving and we encourage pupils to become creative and to take risks as we embrace these technological changes. Issues such as sustainability, global warming, landfill, and cultural considerations all form a part of designing and making in today’s society and will become more increasingly important in the future. We want pupils to be open to new ideas but also to be able to analyse products and processes to enable them to make informed choices, with the creativity to adapt and problem solve for themselves. Although women form about 50% of the workforce, only a fraction of them actually embark on careers in engineering, architecture, designing or become entrepreneurs. We see it as one of our roles to encourage pupils to consider these careers as viable options.
Curriculum
Design and Technology at Fairfield consists of a variety of disciplines depending upon year group including Textiles, Product Design, Electronics and Food Technology. In Year 7 you will keep the same Design and Technology Teacher all year who will work through a variety of themed projects with you. In Years 8 and 9 the faculty works on a rotation system where pupils are taught these subjects in ten week blocks. Each module is designed to build upon the skills learnt in that subject the previous year.
