Design & Technology

In Design and Technology at Harris Academy Greenwich, students develop creativity, practical skills, and problem-solving abilities through designing and making real products. The curriculum introduces a wide range of materials, tools, and processes while building confidence, independence, and understanding of sustainable design.

Year 7 begins with drawing and design skills. Students learn technical drawing, including 3D shapes, perspective, and accurate measurement using mathematics. They then apply this knowledge when working with materials such as pine, using hand tools, simple machinery, and joining methods to create a working sweet dispenser. Alongside practical work, students design a logo using basic computer graphics software. Later in the year, they complete a short textiles project, designing and making a fabric key chain using hand stitching and appliqué, experiencing the full design process from research to evaluation.

Year 8 builds on these foundations by introducing new materials and environmental awareness. Students create a wooden “blockhead” character, developing finishing techniques and practical skills learned in Year 7. They then explore sustainability, including the life cycle of plastics and the importance of reducing waste. This learning leads to a creative project where students design and make an insect hotel using recycled or upcycled materials. Throughout, they follow the full design process: researching, designing, modelling, making, and evaluating a functional product.

Year 9 focuses on the iterative design process and improving drawing techniques, including isometric projection and rendering materials. Students complete a sustained project to design and make a handcrafted wooden jewellery box inspired by historical design movements such as Art Deco and Modernism, drawing on collections from the V&A Museum. They use a range of tools and machinery, decorate their final product based on their research, and evaluate it against the original design brief while suggesting future improvements.

At Key Stage 4, students deepen their knowledge of materials, processes, and design thinking. In Year 10, they explore more advanced techniques such as bending and forming plywood, study influential designers, and use industry-standard CAD software like CREO. Students work more independently by creating their own design brief, developing ideas for a specific client, producing and testing a prototype, and preparing for GCSE coursework.

The GCSE emphasises creativity, real-world problem solving, and the iterative design process. Students design and make meaningful products that respond to user needs while considering sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics. Half of the final grade comes from coursework and half from the written examination.

Overall, Design and Technology equips students with practical, creative, and analytical skills that support further study, careers in design and engineering, and confident problem solving in everyday life.