The Design and Technology department at Burnham Grammar School are committed to delivering a curriculum accessible to all which provides the broadest possible range of opportunities for students. The department firmly believes that students learn best by ‘doing’ and by allowing students to experiment and take design risks, in a safe and positive learning environment.
Our main priority is for students to be problem solvers who are not afraid of making mistakes. It is also our aim to create strong cross curricular links with other subjects, such as Mathematics, Science, Computing, English, and Art. We want Design and Technology to give students the opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences they need to be successful in later life.
KS3 Design & Technology Curriculum Map
KS4 Design & Technology Curriculum Map
KS5 Design & Technology Curriculum Map
Please see further information about each KS3, GCSE & A Level Design & Technology Courses below :
At KS3 D&T students have one lesson a week and stay with the same teacher all year. Within the design and technology curriculum, food and nutrition is also taught in year 7 - students have 1 lesson a fortnight for food in addition to D&T lessons. Food projects have been incorporated into the D&T curriculum design and assessments.
Students are taught in units of work which focus on assessment strands to cover the National Curriculum, through both practical and theory work.
The overall aim for the year 7 curriculum is to introduce the students to the workshop and to gain confidence in a scary environment. The aim is to create products that demonstrate skills on particular machines and with materials that they will need to use in other projects further up the school.
Project 1: H&S design task
Project 2: Note holder
Project 3: Pen holder
Project 4: Ball game
Project 5: English collaborative story book project
Project 6: series of STEM lessons to enhance real scientific principles in a fun, hands-on way.
Food Unit 1 - Health & safety
Food Unit 2 - Using heat in the kitchen
Food Unit 3 - Healthy eating
The overall aim for the year 8 curriculum is to further skills in the workshop. Having worked predominantly in wood and plastic in year 7, the aim in year 8 is to use more difficult materials/processes. Year 8 will also work with a client, so that they produce a product for someone else, not just themselves.
Project 1: H&S signs & symbols
Project 2: Electronics
Project 3: Trophy
Project 4: CAD
Project 5: series of STEM lessons to enhance real scientific principles in a fun, hands-on way.
The current GCSE course follows the Edexcel syllabus – product design.
Year 9 is designed to broaden students' understanding of materials, manufacturing processes and modern design practices while preparing them for the skills required at GCSE Design & Technology. Through a range of practical and theory-based projects, students develop their confidence as designers, makers and problem solvers. They explore a variety of materials and manufacturing techniques, helping them make informed decisions about future GCSE and NEA projects.
Students develop skills in:
Presentation and design communication techniques
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Working with timber and wood-based materials
Working with metals and metal-forming processes
Paper and card modelling techniques
Working with polymers and plastics
Evaluating products and design decisions
Planning, prototyping and manufacturing
Year 10 provides students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of design and manufacturing whilst developing increasingly sophisticated practical skills. Through a series of focused projects, students apply their knowledge of materials, processes and design communication techniques to produce high-quality prototypes and outcomes.
Alongside a fortnightly theory lesson, students undertake practical projects that develop their skills in CAD, timber, metals and packaging design. Particular emphasis is placed on accuracy, quality of manufacture and independent problem-solving to ensure students are well-prepared for both the GCSE examination and the demands of the Non-Examined Assessment (NEA).
The NEA project begins in June when students respond to a contextual challenge set by the examination board. This marks the transition from taught projects to independent design work, allowing students to apply the skills and knowledge developed throughout Key Stage 4.
During Year 11, students focus primarily on completing their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), which forms a substantial component of the GCSE Design & Technology qualification. Working independently, students investigate and respond to a contextual challenge, conducting research, developing and refining ideas through an iterative design process, manufacturing a high-quality prototype and evaluating the success of their final outcome.
Alongside their NEA work, students continue to develop their understanding of technical, designing and making principles through a dedicated theory lesson every fortnight. These sessions focus on preparation for the written examination and reinforce key concepts relating to materials, manufacturing processes, sustainability, contemporary design practice and emerging technologies.
The current A level course follows the Edexcel syllabus – product design.
The A Level Product Design course follows the Edexcel specification and provides students with the opportunity to develop their creativity, problem-solving and practical manufacturing skills through a range of design-and-make projects.
Students design and manufacture products using a variety of materials and processes, combining traditional workshop techniques with modern CAD/CAM technologies. The course draws upon principles from industrial design, engineering and manufacturing, encouraging students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems while considering the needs of users and the wider impact of design decisions.
Year 12 focuses on developing the knowledge, understanding and practical skills required for the Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) in Year 13. Students experience a range of design briefs and explore different materials, manufacturing processes and design methodologies through a series of focused projects.
Students will complete:
Project 1 : CAD/CAM knowledge and understanding through the Kinder Egg Project
Project 2: Presentation and design communication skills through a drawing portfolio project
Project 3: Designers, design movements and design history through the Chair Project
These projects develop students' ability to research, design, prototype, manufacture and evaluate products while building confidence in independent design thinking.
During Year 13, students focus primarily on their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), undertaking an independent design-and-make project in response to a contextual challenge set by the examination board.
Alongside their NEA work, students continue to develop their theoretical understanding through two dedicated theory lessons every fortnight. These sessions support preparation for the written examinations and reinforce key concepts relating to materials, manufacturing processes, contemporary technologies, sustainability and commercial design practice.