We split year 7 and 8 to cover Product Design and Food / Textiles projects as detailed below. In year 9 we have a carousel where the students experience each of the 7 GCSE options subjects giving them a greater awareness enabling them to make appropriate option choices. In addition to this we also deliver STEM to year 7 with the intention to expand this in year 8.

Year 7

Product Design

U Light – Making a mini torch and learning about simple circuits and components

U Juice - Designing the graphics for drinks carton and learning about technical drawing

U End – Making a bookend whilst learning about types of wood and fabrication techniques

U Grab – Designing and making a grabber from levers and linkages.

Food is all about learning new skills through the following projects

Pack It - Packed lunch ideas

Cook It - Simple recipes using the hob, oven and grill

Textiles - learning hand sewing and basic machine sewing skills through:

U Carry - small hand sewn purse or MP3 holder

U Cover - basic machine sewing skills to make a cushion cover 

STEM

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and maths. A few years ago the government recognised that students in England weren’t choosing these subjects even though the economy relies on the growth of STEM based industry. They also recognised that students tended to compartmentalise their learning, and couldn’t see the links between the subjects. At Arnold Hill we decided to try and break down a few of those barriers. We want our students to realise how fun these areas are, how exciting Engineering is and how Maths underpins everything that they see around them. Students in year 7 (and year 7 and 8 next year) study STEM as a discreet subject for an hour a week. They get involved in fun project based activities, from making and marketing bath bombs, to designing bobsleighs and looking at the science behind Olympic athletes' diets. We love teaching it. 

Year 8

Product Design

U Hang – Learning about plastics, there properties and material abilities through making an acrylic mobile phone holder.

U Frame – Learning about metals and the processes used to waste and finish through making an aluminium picture frame.

U Store - Learning about more complex wood joints through making a decorative wooden storage box as used in industry.

U Test – Learning about smart materials through making a simple circuit with smart materials and designing the case for create a finished prototype.

Food - U Eat - building on skills learnt in year 7 making a variety of snacks, main meals and desserts culminating in a two course meal

Textiles - U Hold - making a bag using batik for decoration and U Care - making 3d structures recycling old plastic bags

Year 9

Product Design

U Model U Design – Learning about iconic designers and using them as inspiration to design and model an innovative chair using a range of modelling materials

Options information

Electronic Products

U Light me up – learning about control systems as the basis of electronics and soldering together a light sensing mood light that automatically changes colour.

Options information

Construction

U Mechanise – learning about cams and cranks through making a moving mechanical toy.

Options information

Food - U Skill - learning more advanced skills to prepare for KS4 - practicals include swiss rolls and bread making

Options information

Nutrition and Health

Options information

Hospitality - U Takeaway - learning more advanced skills to prepare for KS4 - practicals include pizza, burgers and spring rolls

Options information

Textiles - U Gimick - making a promotional character using the sewing machine

Options information

Fashion and Clothing - U Formula 1 - designing clothing for a formula 1 racing driver

Options information

Through the technology faculty we also deliver the BTEC Child Development course and the BTEC Health and Social Care course.