DT / Engineering - Year 9 Choices

In Year 9 DT/Engineering, students will be introduced to the engineered world through small independent and teamwork challenges. The purpose of these challenges is to broaden students’ knowledge of engineering products and sectors and to improve students’ problem-solving skills. In each case, students will work either as a team or independently and will be given a brief or problem to solve. They will then have to, using the limited equipment provided, work on the best-possible solution to the given problem. All projects will be designed around a ‘plan, do, review’ flow of work, in which students will learn through tackling the given design brief, carrying out research and then designing and making something in response to the given brief.

Along the way they will develop knowledge and skills in the use of materials, tools and techniques related to the engineering curriculum that will continue in greater depth moving into Year 10. By the end of the year students will have developed the ability to respond to real life problems, to use CAD technology in their design work, and to use workshop tools and equipment safely and effectively.

Ongoing assessments will be carried out throughout the course. This will be mainly following a coursework and portfolio model, reflecting on project work and identifying steps forward. There will also be a mock exam towards the end of Y9.

It is important that learners recognise the knowledge and understanding they develop are vocationally relevant. We hope to organise visits to colleges, universities and manufacturers for tours and product studies. We will also invite experienced engineers and designers into school to share their experience as professionals in the wider world.

WJEC Tech Award Engineering.

Mike Everett-Lindsay meverett-lindsay@millbayacademy.org