Key Stage 4 Technology
At Key Stage 4 we offer a range of GCSE and BTEC subjects. We are constantly looking to move with the innovation in materials and manufacturing processes to ensure that we are teaching the most up to date techniques as well as the more traditional.
Using good and bad design from current and past designers of small and large fame we hope to educate the students and make them realise that products are much more than a 3D form. We deliver the courses through a variety of media in out suite of rooms. The staff in the department have a very strong knowledge and a wealth of experience. We match staff expertise to course requirements to make sure that students get the best out of their time with us.
All courses have detailed support material and assessment calendars, and we have a comprehensive Managed Learning Environment page in the guide of the Technology Key Stage 4 Room. Please scroll down below for more specific course details and contact information.
GCSE Product Design
Product Design is about designing products that people want and enjoy, but most importantly, that will improve people's lives. We come into contact with thousands of products every day and very often we take design so much for granted that we don't even notice it. Ever thought how many hours have gone into the design of that door handle?
We teach the principles of good design; getting the balance right between how something works and how it looks - "function versus form" - and look at the work of great designers throughout history to inspire your creativity.
Learning will focus on developing skills within Resistant Materials and Graphics, but you are not restricted to working with wood, metal, plastic, card and paper. Materials can be mixed to create both prototypes and finished, high quality products to your own design. You will follow in the steps of designers throughout the process achieving great prototypes as well as overcoming design faults and problems.
Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM) also play an important role within Product Design and this will be encouraged throughout the course.
Full course information
GCSE Electronic Products
Electronics and Control Systems follows a path of discovery from elementary electronics to IC and PIC based applications. You will rapidly develop your knowledge and understanding of concepts and see the complexity of the circuits you create increase.
You will develop skills of creativity and critical analysis to design and make high quality electronic products. You will look at how components function and work within circuits to create safe working products. You will develop a logical approach to circuit construction and fault finding to create products that you use and see in everyday life. You will learn about the sustainability of electrical systems and components and how society is and has changed as a result.
You will learn practical skills including circuit prototyping through CAD as well as manual construction, techniques of designing circuits and casings, product development and a wider knowledge of electrical systems and management control in industry.
Full course information
Design and Craft
Needing a head start to go into the construction industry? Enjoy creating masterpieces with your own hands? Maybe you want to go into management working with a range of trades and customers whilst project managing. If the answers are yes, then Design and Craft could be the course for you!
The course, although vocational gives people the key skills and foundations they need in order to progress onto a career in areas such as site carpentry, bench carpentry and the manufacturing industry.
The units will investigate, analyse and put into practise:
- Site management
- Health and safety in the work place
- Construction Drawing
- Human resources and the need for COSHH and the HSE
- How the construction industry works
- The impact that the construction industry has on the economy
- A detailed knowledge of hand tools and traditional skills that employers are now asking for.
Full course information
GCSE Food
In year 10 of the 2 year GCSE course pupils will complete theory and practical work building on their knowledge, skills and understanding of ingredients, processes and nutrition. At the end of year 10 pupils will sit the only two hour exam in the course which is worth 40% of their overall grade. The pupils are given some pre-released material prior to the exam to give them an insight to the themed questions on the paper.
During year 11 pupils move on to Unit 2 and have no worry of an exam as 40% of the course has already been achieved in year 10!
Unit 2 (Designing and Making Practice) involves researching through product analysis.
Full course information
GCSE Hospitality GCSE
Throughout the GCSE Hospitality course you will:
- Learn about the hospitality industry (different types of hotel, restaurants, holiday centres etc.)
- Build on and develop your practical cooking skills
- Learn about cooking in a catering environment (portioning, costing, presentation and food safety)
- Understand the possible job roles, career opportunities and relevant training available in the hospitality industry (8% of UK jobs are in hospitality)
- Plan and carry out a real hospitality event (including marking and serving food to customers) This unit based 100% coursework qualification offers pupils the chance to achieve their results without the worry of an exam.
Full course information
GCSE Textiles
Textiles Technology follows the same course structure as the other GCSE Design and Technology qualifications. You will develop skills of creativity and critical analysis to design and make high quality textiles products. You will look at how fibres, fabrics, fashion and other textiles products have evolved and the impact that future developments will have upon the world in which we live.
You will learn practical skills including the surface decoration techniques of quilting, patchwork, embroidery and applique, methods of applying colour to textiles, fibres and fabric construction and the manufacturing techniques needed to make clothing and textiles products/accessories.
Full course information
BTEC Fashion and Textiles
You will study a range of units including:-
1. Hand and machine manufacturing skills for fashion - where you experiment with materials, equipment, techniques and processes used in garment production, use construction, decorative and finishing techniques to develop and present final fashion garments.
2. Fashion realisation - where you will develop your creative potential and fashion design skills to develop an entirely original fashion garment. You will research a chosen theme, explore ideas, experiment and solve problems, taking your ideas forward through pattern cutting and production to complete an entirely unique garment.
3. Working with Accessory Briefs - you will take on the role of a professional designer and respond to a brief given by a client. This will be a fashion accessory. You will research and develop ideas, presenting your work to your client at all stages of the design and manufacturing process. You will learn to use specialist materials and technical processes, further develop construction techniques and understand the successful characteristics and quality of fashion accessory design work. You will learn about the suitability of materials and methods of hand and machine stitching to achieve their aims and also gain an appreciation of health and safety issues and the costs involved in accessory development and construction.
Full course information
Level 2 Home Cooking Skills
In this course, learners will develop their cooking skills by exploring recipes for nutritious meals. It aims to give learners the skills and confidence to enjoy cooking meals at home, to apply skills to new recipes to continue cooking for themselves and their families and to inspire others.
Full course information
Level 2 Creative Crafts
In Creative Crafts you will learn about the principles of good design; getting the balance right between how something works and how it looks and look at the work of great designers throughout history to inspire your own creativity. The modern Alessi, Richard Rogers, Santiago Calatrava, Sir Norman Foster and Jonathan Ive products may look fantastic but where did their original design concept come from?
Learning will focus on developing skills within Resistant Materials and Graphics however you are not restricted to working with wood, metal, plastic, card and paper, you can mix materials to create both prototypes and finished, high quality products to your own design. You will follow in the steps of designers throughout the process achieving great prototypes as well as overcoming design faults and problems.
Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM) also play an important role within Product Design and this will be encouraged throughout the course
Full course information
Children's Play, Learning and Development BTEC
The BTEC first award gives learners the opportunity to gain a broad understanding and knowledge of, and skills in, the early year’s sector, for example, of child development and using play to promote child development. You will learn by completing assignments covering how children grow and develop, including how to observe different aspects of child development.
Full course information
Health and Social Care
The BTEC Extended Certificate is a practical, work related course. You will learn by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic, workplace situations, activities and demands.
All pupils will study two core units; "Communication and Individual Rights within Health and Social Care sectors" and "Individual Needs within Health and Social Care sectors."
A further specialist vocational unit is also studied which includes 60 hours of work experience in a Health and Social Care setting.
Full course information
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You can contact the staff within the department below by email or by phone on 0115 9554804.
claire.mayle@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – Director or Learning for Technology
christopher.bull@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – Assistant Head of Faculty
laura.ringrose@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – Curriculum Leader 14-16
sarah-jayne.kemp@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – KS5 Co-ordinator
clare.pedlar@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk - KS5 Co-ordinator
kwai-fong.li@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – KS3 Co-ordinator
suzanne.norris@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – KS3 Co-ordinator
judith.jackson@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk
louise.maddison@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk
joanne.hoppe@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk
sarah.robinson@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk
catherine.mckee@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk
meg.norridge@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk
shafique.fazal@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – Vice Principal
christina.baker@arnoldhillacademy.co.uk – Vice Principal