Technology & Design

We provide opportunities for students to develop their technological knowledge and design skills throughout their time at Pate’s. Students design products for a wide range of users, gain an understanding of a variety of production methods and evaluate their products, facilitating future career pathways for many students and securing necessary life skills for all. This is achieved by weaving aspects of technology and design throughout the curriculum, as well as providing an abundance of enrichment activities.

The school is fortunate to have outstanding facilities. In addition to four network rooms in the main school and additional technology in subject areas such as music, we have recently refurbished our dedicated Cyber Hub building. This has a Food Science room and three multi-functional technology spaces equipped with networked machines, 3D printers, and access to a wide range of workshop equipment.

Computing

Physical Computing and Cyber Security underpin ever more careers in the world around us, and we are aiming to reflect the latest technological developments in our curriculum.

Many of the units covered in KS3 Computing allow students to create ‘soft’ products, a piece of software or a program. However, the general principle of all the topics covered in Key Stage 3 is that students research their intended solution. They provide a design and the criteria for it to succeed. They then manufacture or create their solution, detailing the steps that they have taken and evaluate their work, including a user evaluation. Some topics allow students to manufacture products.

Year 7
Unit 3: Data Science with Spreadsheets. This unit covers the use of sensors on the BBC:MicroBit to monitor and log data and then integrate this with a spreadsheet to make a graphical image and use it to spot trends.

Unit 4: Electronic Engineers with Flowol. Students learn how to use and power electrical systems by using Flowol to model systems online or by connecting circuits using components and breadboards. This also allows an opportunity to understand how feedback, using inputs, can influence outputs, such as motors, LEDs and servos.

Year 8
Unit 1: CAD/CAM 3-D Modelling. In this unit students are asked to design and create a 3D model that is aimed at a target audience. Using our network of 3D printers, students can use CAM to manufacture their products.

Unit 2: Textiles with Python Turtle. Students create a pattern that is then manufactured via e-textiles. Students make a design for a tote bag aimed at a target audience.

Year 9
Unit 1: DataFace. Students work in groups on a large dataset, exploring the story behind the data, and then design and produce their own creative visual outcome. The winning group presents at the Cheltenham Science Festival.

Unit 5: Physical Computing. Students create algorithms that control external devices, using feedback to make changes to their systems.

Key Stage 4 Technology & Design

All students receive specialist lessons in Technology & Design in Years 10 and 11 as part of their core, non-GCSE curriculum. This is an exciting new part of our curriculum.

Students work in the Cyber Centre on projects designed to mirror the challenges faced by real-life designers and engineers. They work in groups on all aspects of designing and making: researching and exploring, CAD/CAM modelling, 3D printing, costing resources, and evaluating their products. There are opportunities for students to draw directly on learning in Business, Computing and Physics.

Incorporating Art

The Art curriculum plays an important role in developing students’ design skills and knowledge. They are encouraged to select from and use a wide range of materials with every year group drawing, printmaking, painting and using ceramics. In Year 8, students design and make their own models in an architecture module. By following the unendorsed GCSE and A Level Art specifications, students are given the freedom to explore their own chosen area of design, enabling projects in any medium including textiles, digital photography and ceramics.

Food Science – Cooking and Nutrition

As part of our Personal Development Curriculum, students learn practical life skills, including cookery, with timetabled Food lessons in Year 7 and TPM provision in Years 8, 9 and 10. Students are taught to understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health, cook a varied and healthy repertoire of dishes, and become competent in a range of cooking techniques, as well as understand the source and seasonality of their ingredients. Recipes are taught from many different cultures, including Thai curry, black bean fajitas, Irish soda bread and stir fry noodles to name but a few!

Co-Curricular Activities

Our wide array of co-curricular opportunities enables students to engage further with technology and create innovative solutions to real-life problems:

• Physical Computing Club (all years)
• CyberFirst Girls' Competition (Year 8)
• Flying Start Challenge (Year 8)
• Cyberwars
• Brebas Computing Challenge
• Robotics Club (Year 9)
• Raspberry PI Pico Vehicle (Year 10)
• Drone Making (Year 10/11)
• Digital Leaders
• Sensor project (Year 12)
• Cyber EPQ (Year 12/13)