“Tanbridge House is a good school that works hard with the students to improve the progress they make.”
Ofsted Inspection Nov 2007
Technology
The department is well equipped and set in a modern, bright and spacious learning environment. Workshops are large, have their own design areas and access to a subject specific computer suite. Each room contains a range of computer aided manufacturing facilities which will be enhanced with the addition of a second suite of computers for computer aided designing.
Key Stage 3
During Year 7 pupils will acquire knowledge of the core skills required for the more challenging projects undertaken in Years 8 and 9. Pupils’ lessons will be spent on projects involving Food, Graphics, Resistant Material (Wood, Metal, Plastic and Smart materials), Textiles and additionally, Sublimation printing and some basic electronics
We believe that pupils must have an understanding of the ‘traditional’ craft skills, industrial applications (CAD/CAM), the design process, how to use their imagination and develop their creativity in order to develop ideas of their own. The knowledge gained is then used on design projects where pupils solve problems with 3D ornaments, new food products and structural designs/display.
We make the learning experience as practical based as possible and to keep up with the pace of technology we use specialist computer aided machinery and graphics software such as 2D Design, Photoshop, Speed Step and Pro-Desktop. Pupils also use information technology to produce work and learn about business and industrial practices.
The content of the 3 year course is designed to cover knowledge and understanding of:
Materials and components, Structures, Systems and control, Mechanisms, Products and applications, Quality control, Simple electronics, Health & Safety
Examples of projects include:
Learning to design and make new recipes in Food Technology
Understanding mechanisms, and designing and making a toy, incorporating levers
Learning how to use CAD packages to produce posters, packaging, working drawings and models
Key Stage 4
At the end of Year 9, pupils can choose one of the following options: Food Technology, Resistant Materials, Graphic Products or Textiles. We plan to extend the options to include Product Design.
All courses are structured to be as practical based as possible with an emphasis on the use of ICT/ interactive learning experiences. In year 10 pupils complete a focused study based on various projects and materials. This is followed by a major project in Year 11, the coursework accounts for 60% of the final GCSE mark.
Food Technology
Pupils learn to use food as a material to enable them to design and make a food product. They look at the stages of food product development in a real life situation, quality control and assurance, and they develop many important practical skills. Pupils are also given the opportunity to acquire the Basic Food Hygiene certificate.
Graphic Products
Emphasis is placed on the implementation of computer software (CAD) and modelling. Packages used include 2D Design, Paint shop Pro, Photoshop and Pro-Desktop. They also gain hands on experience of plotters, cutting machines, scanning systems, sublimation printing, heat presses and vacuum forming.
Resistant Materials
Pupils focus on developing their ‘traditional’ craft skills, and then learn to combine Designing and Making skills with knowledge and an understanding of a range of materials and processes, in order to design and make products.
They learn to apply industrial practices and methods of using systems (mechanisms, electronics, structures) and control, and gain experience of CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing).
We encourage them to use their imagination and develop their creativity in order to develop ideas of their own. They learn to model and communicate their ideas through the use of ICT (2D Design and Pro Desk Top).
Textiles
Pupils are taught to design and make products using a variety of decorative techniques such as tie dye, appliqué, fabric printing, and machine embroidery. An emphasis is placed on fashion deign with pupils learning basic pattern drafting techniques and constructional processes. They will learn how to use Speed step, a fashion design computer programme used in industry.