Design and Technology

Overview of Department 

At Rye College, we recognise Design Technology as being an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject that is an important means of helping our students create bright futures for themselves and for the wider community. Using creativity and imagination, our students design and make products that serve to solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.  

Curriculum Statement: Values and Aims

By studying Engineering, computing, and Food and Nutrition at Key Stage 3, our students acquire broad subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, Science, engineering, computing and art. In addition, they will learn how to, and feel comfortable in taking risks and become resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens.  

Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world. High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation. Having designed our curriculum to meet the needs of a range of domestic and local contexts, we make sure that we meet the National Curriculum by providing out students with opportunities to:  

• Develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world 

• Using a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills to design and make and evaluate high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users 

• Critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others 

Students are taught the importance of safe and responsible use of internet and mobile digital devices. Through Design Technology lessons, Assemblies, tutor periods and all curriculum areas, E-Safety is reinforced so that students are aware of and can manage the risks of using the internet. 

Everybody needs to be able to cook! In Food lessons, students learn about nutrition and healthy eating, cooking dishes including stir fry, bread, pasta, pizza, biscuits, risotto, chilli, pastries and healthy snack bars. Students also learn to be safe and hygienic in the kitchen. Students develop the skills to cook and produce food for themselves and their families. In addition, students learn about staple foods and the main food groups. Students are equipped to make better choices about their diets and healthy life-styles.  

This three-year course is designed to dovetail into the GCSE in Engineering reflecting the assessment criteria and focus areas the qualification develops.