During Key Stage 3, or Years 7, 8 and 9, each student will follow five modules in the year (except in Year 9) namely, Resistant Materials, Electronics, Food, Textiles and Graphics. Each of these courses include elements of the National Curriculum as laid down by the government so that by the end of the three years all students should have covered all aspects of the curriculum.
The areas of consideration are:
Developing, Planning and Communicating Ideas
Working with tools, equipment and materials
Evaluating processes and products
Materials and components
Systems and Control
Structures
Assignments for increasing breadth of knowledge
In Year 7 students follow a more proscribed course where they will be introduced to the workshop, it’s materials, machinery and health and safety. Projects will have a minor design element with a larger practical content. Students are encouraged to decorate their projects at home where appropriate.
In Year 8 students are introduced to the design process and are expected to produce elementary designs to support their practical work. Students also have the opportunity to sample Systems and Control as a discrete subject where they will learn to program the computer using Logicator and in turn their programs will operate various systems including the pneumatic drill and can crusher, a lift, several sets of real traffic lights and sound and light shows.
In Year 9 students now opt for 3 of the 5 choices of courses available. As they will opt for their GCSE subject in February it seemed sensible for them to pursue courses that are of interest to them and for longer. So Year 9 courses run for approximately 12 weeks. This enables them to prepare portfolio of work that would include Research into a chosen project; the creation and development of ideas; manufacturing and then evaluation of their project against their original brief. In effect these courses are a mini GCSE in themselves.
Throughout the three years there are a number of opportunities to use the CNC machine (a computer controlled milling machine) and learn 3d modelling and rendering using Prodesktop.
Key Stage 3