Department of Food, Textiles, Child Development, Health and Social Care

The Food and Textiles, Child Development and Health and Social Care department has 6 members of teaching staff. We are also lucky to have 2 support staff within the department.  We are a well established and successful department who work together to deliver a high quality education for our students.

All rooms are purpose built, there are 2 textiles rooms, 3 food rooms and 1 used for Child Development.  ICT facilities are good, all rooms having projectors or interactive whiteboards and computerised sewing machines.  There are 14 PC’s within the department.

The Importance of Design and Technology

In design and technology pupils combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products that meet human needs. They learn to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments. They learn to think creatively and intervene to improve the quality of life, solving problems as individuals and members of a team.  Working in stimulating contexts that provide a range of opportunities and draw on the local ethos, community and wider world, pupils identify needs and opportunities. They respond with ideas, products and systems, challenging expectations where appropriate. They combine practical and intellectual skills with an understanding of aesthetic, technical, cultural, health, social, emotional, economic, industrial and environmental issues. As they do so, they evaluate present and past design and technology, and its uses and effects. Through design and technology pupils develop confidence in using practical skills and become discriminating users of products. They apply their creative thinking and learn to innovate.

The curriculum is briefly as follows:

Years 7, 8 and 9

One 60 minute lesson each week, the year being divided equally between food and textiles.  KS3 Food groups follow the Licence to Cook scheme for practical work. Students can access further work and online tutorials on www.licencetocook.org.uk , login details are available from their teacher.

Year Group	Food Technology	Textiles Technology
7	Healthy Eating Basic skills	Design and make a hat, using animals as a design theme
8	Staple Foods Food Around The World	Design and make a retro cushion
9	Function of ingredients in pastry, sauces, cakes Making methods Nutrition	Design and make a shoe bag

Key Stage 4

At KS4 the department offers a range of qualifications for students to opt for via the options system.  The following table provides a range of links for you to follow with regard to the options available.

Key Stage 5

At KS5 the department offers the following qualifications for students to undertake.

GCE Health - Student Guide - Examination Specification

GCE Food - Student Guide - Examination Specification