KS3 & KS4 design and technology curriculum

Knowledge of product analysis (critiquing products, materials and manufacturing processes) is essential for effective designing. This unit builds upon previous units such as Year 9 'Developments in New Materials', in which pupils' learn about different materials and their categories. Knowledge within this unit progresses to specific examples and how this knowledge can inform design decisions. This lays the foundations for pupils to justify their decisions when creating ideas as part of iterative design, Non-Examined Assessment and later units such as Core Principles.

1. Why and how designers analyse products
2. Timber properties and processes
3. Polymer properties and processes
4. Metal properties and processes
5. Testing citrus fruit juicers
6. Form versus function fruit juicers
7. The work of other designers
8. Anthropometrics and ergonomics
9. Basic 3D sketching
10. Advanced 3D sketching
11. Mastering 3D sketching

• Pupils will be able to identify the material groups.
• Pupils will know the four manufacturing processes, wasting, fabricating, reforming and deforming.
• Pupils will be able to sketch and annotate.
• Pupils will understand that all design and technological practice takes place within contexts which inform outcomes.