Welcome to the DT department. In this section of the website, you will find important information for the department as well as some useful links to our curriculum page. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
| Teacher | Role | |
| Mrs J Cawson | Head of Department | jcawson@brs.srscmat.co.uk |
| Mrs M Barlow | Teacher of Food Preparation and Nutrition | mbarlow@brs.srscmat.co.uk |
| Miss E Willsdon | Teacher of Product Design | ewillsdon@brs.srscmat.co.uk |
| Mrs J Langston | Teacher of Food and Nutrition Associate Assistant Headteacher and SENCo | jlangston@brs.srscmat.co.uk |
| Mrs H Turner | Teacher of Textiles Head of Art and Textiles | Hturner@brs.srscmat.co.uk |
Within DT home learning will be set on a monthly basis by the class teacher. Students will be able to find this on Arbor and should have written the task and deadline in their planner.
We use worksheets and extended presentation homework, as well as Seneca, which is an online subject specific question-based platform. If your child chooses DT or Food and Nutrition as a GCSE option, homework will begin to incorporate NEA preparation and exam practice questions to prepare them for sitting their GCSE. If your child selects Textiles as a GCSE option, homework will support the development of their coursework and be related to practical work they complete in lesson. Textiles equipment folders will be available to purchase from school at the beginning of the GCSE to support in the completion of work outside of the classroom.
If your child is unable to access home learning online, please ensure that the department are aware so that accessible homework can be set for your child.
Seneca Learning – https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/
Students attending DT lessons must arrive fully prepared with the whole-school expected equipment. For students with long hair, it is expected that you have a hair tie for any practical lessons to ensure Health and Safety when using equipment in the workshops and Food room. For practical Food lessons, students are expected to source and bring in any ingredients ready for the lesson, these should be stored in the Food room at the start of the school day.
It is essential that you have your mini whiteboard, whiteboard pens and a rubber with you every lesson which will form part of your knowledge retrieval exercises in class.
You will need to ensure that you put your equipment on the desk at the start of each lesson along with your planner as they all form part of your learning.
KS4 (GCSE) students will be expected to use a wider range of materials/equipment during lessons as their skills develop. See below for subject specific:
Textiles – At the start of the course, students are given the opportunity to purchase a GCSE Textiles folder, which contains essential textiles equipment needed to support their work both in lessons and at home. While all general resources will be provided in school, students may choose to explore additional materials based on their individual interests and project work.
DT/Product Design – While all general resources will be provided in school, students may choose to explore additional materials based on their individual interests and project work.
Food and Nutrition – students are expected to source and bring in any ingredients in preparation for any practical lessons and assessments.
In DT, we strive to acknowledge our students’ successes. Students will experience reward and recognition through achievement points for positive contributions in lessons, including making good progress, demonstrating effort, and actively engaging in class discussions. Outstanding classwork, homework, or significant development in skills will be rewarded with golden tickets.
In addition, high-quality classwork is regularly shared on the school’s social media platforms to celebrate success more widely. Whole-class feedback sheets used during lessons will also highlight exceptional work, including images of students’ work to showcase excellence and motivate peers.
Strong reading skills are fundamental to success in Design and Technology. Reading enables students to understand design briefs, interpret technical information, follow instructions, and evaluate their own work. Reading for pleasure also helps to broaden creativity, develop critical thinking, and expand general knowledge, all of which inspire innovative design ideas. A secure understanding of subject-specific vocabulary is equally important, allowing students to communicate their ideas accurately, understand technical concepts, and engage confidently with the NEA elements at GCSE.
These texts promote creative thinking and expand understanding in each of the DT disciplines:
Product Design
Engineers Making a Difference – Dr. Shini Somara
The Design of Everyday Things – Don Norman
Cradle to Cradle – William McDonough
Textiles
Fashionopolis – Dana Thomas
The Fabric of Civilization– Virginia Postrel
Food and Nutrition
How Food Works – DK publishing
The Science of Cooking – Dr Stuart Farrimond
Students are also encouraged to explore design magazines, online galleries (such as The Design Museum and Design Burger websites) to widen their inspiration and understanding.
No upcoming events – check in regularly for updates
We use the following Exam Boards for GCSE:
Design & Technology – AQA
Food and Nutrition – AQA
Art Textiles – Eduqas – Art and Design (Textile Design)
You will find links to the exam board’s specification and recommended revision materials below:
Design & Technology – https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552/specification/specification-at-a-glance
Food and Nutrition – https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/food-preparation-and-nutrition/gcse/food-preparation-and-nutrition-8585/specification/specification-at-a-glance
Art Textiles – https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/artand-design/gcse/eduqas-gcse-art-and-design-spec-from-2016.pdf
Design & Technology – https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/b4e64de8-a5d1-411b-81e2-aa4e2016e908
Food and Nutrition – https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/d59d0e60-4fa8-11e8-bbba-738ab127bed6?tab=overview
The DT Department strives to prepare students for life beyond school by equipping them with a wide range of creative and transferable skills. We believe that studying a technology subject helps students to think independently, solve problems, and express ideas confidently—skills that are highly valued in many careers. Some of the ways we support this include:
Careers links within DT include:
| • Interior Designer | • Design Engineer | Fashion Designer | Nutritionist |
| • Product Designer | • CAD engineer | Print Technician | Restaurant Manager |
| • Video Game Design | • Electrical Engineer | Costume Designer | Dietitian |
| • Civil Engineer | • Sound Engineer | Footwear Designer | Chef |
| • Mechanical Engineer | • Architect | Fashion Buyer | Personal Trainer |
| • Robotics Engineer | • Steel Fabricator | Conservation | Supermarket Buyer |
| • Aeronautical engineer | • Electrician | TV/Film Prop Maker | Baker |
| • Joiner | • Surveyor | Garment technologist | Food Product Developer |
This list is not exhaustive and is ever-changing. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s DT teacher.
