The Key Stage 3 Experience

The current national curriculum programme of study for design and technology at key stage 3 has been disapplied with effect from 1st September 2013 and is no longer statutory. This means that Paignton Academy is now free to develop our own curriculum for design and technology that best meet the needs of Paignton pupils, in preparation for the introduction of the new national curriculum from September 2014. An extract from the draft proposal can be seen in News and Success section. 

 

The students are taught in the Product Design

Workshops on Waterleat Road, and are in mixed

ability groups of around 20 students.

During Year 7 the students complete a 14 hour

Product Design module, 9 hours in year 8 and

18 hours in Year 9.

 

By the very nature of Product design, the

designs are always changing and moving

forward. In the past students at Key Stage 3

have designed sculptures, clocks,

Mechanical Toys, Wind Vanes, Puppets, Kites,

products including Thyristor and Transistor circuits

to name but a few.

 

In 2013/2014 students are designing and making Key Fobs, Desktop Structures and Jewellery in Presentation Boxes. They will learn about Mechanisms by making a Pantograph in year 9. They will learn about Structures by making a Model of the Thomas Heatherwick bridge, Paddington, London in year 8. And in year 7 the students will be introduced to mechanisms and structures by making a simple Cam system, and a structural base to support it