Information Book Just for Starters - Stockport Grammar School

What is Design and Technology in the Lower School like?
First Year: Pupils start the course by learning about the basic classification of materials and
then take part in a design and make project, in which they construct a hanging mobile
from softwood and MDF. This teaches them to use basic hand tools and also some simple
machine tools such as pillar drills and vertical belt sanders. Pupils are introduced to Pro
Desktop, a computer aided design package.
Second Year: During the Second Year course, the pupils cover a range of jewellery techniques:
casting, enamelling and etching. They then complete a design and make project to produce
a gift for a local museum.
Third Year: Pupils are introduced to a wide range of plastic manufacturing techniques such
as vacuum forming, blow moulding and also the use of a computer numerically controlled
laser cutter. They design and make a clock based on their research of the Memphis Design
movement.
What happens further up the school?
At GCSE pupils currently study AQA Design and Technology: Product Design. The course
involves pupils designing and manufacturing products using a range of materials including
wood, metals, plastics and composites. They will study industrial processes to give them an
understanding of how everyday products are produced commercially. The use of ICT will
form a key element of the course with CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer
Aided Manufacturing) being used in the development and realisation of their ideas.
At A Level the department teaches AQA AS and A2 Product Design, which allows the pupils
to follow a course which can be individually tailored to their future career or academic
aspirations.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
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