Ethos
The department seeks to enable pupils to develop their natural creative talents through the medium of Design and Manufacture. It achieves this through a balanced Year 7-9 curriculum, ‘an open-all-hours’ policy for the practical facilities with teacher support, and a broad Year 10-13 curriculum. The department has recently expanded to encompass Food and Nutrition with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles as well as a broad range of skills.

What OFSTED said about DT in 2005: “The quality of teaching and learning is very good”.

Year 7-9
During these years students study Electronics and Control, Graphics, food (click here for recipes) and Resistant Materials in equal measure. They are taught in half classes (max 16 pupils) for safety and will cover a wide range of skills and knowledge through practically based projects. Students also have the opportunity to join one of the many lunchtime clubs to further develop their knowledge and skills in specific areas. For example it is not unusual for students in this part of the school to learn how to electrically Weld, Turn, Mill and Grind.

Year 10-11
There are a range of DT courses made available at GCSE. These are currently Electronic Products, Graphics and Resistant Materials, and from September 2009 we hope to add Food and Nutrition. Students regularly achieve very good grades and value added in theses DT GCSEs. Students are encouraged to join in with the lunchtime clubs and where appropriate mentor younger students. External visits and outside expertise is sought to show the reality of their studies in the ‘real world’.

Outline Programme for Delivery of GCSE: D&T: Electronic Products

Outline Programme for Delivery of GCSE: D&T: Graphic Products

Outline Programme for Delivery of GCSE: D&T: Resistant Materials

Year 12-13
Currently the DT courses offered at ‘A’ level are Graphics, Resistant Materials and Systems and Control. A few students join our groups from other local schools who mainly do not offer these subjects. We encourage students to enter enrichment courses such as CREST (CREativity in Science and Technology) and they have achieved a Gold Standard in their work. This is promoted as an excellent opportunity to add content to their University applications. We are also offering an enrichment course in Food to teach Year 12 basic skills in nutrition and cooking.

Lunchtime Clubs
The department currently offers the following:

• Green Power /Gravity Racing Club 
• Young Engineers Club
• Lego Mindstorms Club (Robotics) in partnership with ICT.
• Electronics Club
• Flight (Aero Modelling) club
• Graphics Xtra club

Design and Technology Staff
Mr N J L Tull (Head of Dept), Mr Z Bamgbola, Mr E Goddard,
Mr P Skoyles, Mr G Stevens and Ms B Wedrychowski

For further information please contact the Head of Department via the School Office:
T: 01892 529551
E: thegrammarschool@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk