The King's (The Cathedral) School

  • Welcome to our school

    Welcome to The King’s School. We are proud of our long-standing history and tradition going back to 1541 and embrace everything the modern world has to offer, as we look towards the future. We value, and strive to encourage, individual academic success, alongside musical, cultural and sporting achievements, within the Christian family ethos, which is central to everything we do. Our aim is to be “A Family Achieving Excellence”.  Read More

  • Music at King's

    We enjoy a deserved reputation for musical excellence.  As The Cathedral School, we educate the Peterborough Cathedral Choristers; the School benefits not only from their professionalism but also from the talents and enthusiasm of so many other able musicians, who perform in an extensive range of orchestras, choirs, bands and ensembles  in school, in the wider community of  Peterborough and on tour abroad.  Read More

  • Sport at King's

    We are committed to breadth and quality within Physical Education; it helps develop self-esteem, dignity and respect for all members of our community.  It is crucial to students’ personal development, and plays a significant role in our curricular and extra-curricular life. Read More

  • Teaching & Learning

    Central to every student's progress is the quality of Teaching & Learning. We aim to offer excellence both in the classroom and within a King’s education in its broadest sense, combining the best of modern thinking and technological developments with strategies which have stood the test of time, to prepare our young people to go out with confidence and enthusiasm to face the challenges of today’s world. Read More

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Design Technology

Design Technology forms an area of the curriculum that develops skills of quite a different nature from other subjects. Design Technology enables students to develop their awareness of the world around them, to develop an understanding of and capability in the technological world. Instead of theoretical problem solving, design is about the creative application of science and technology to solve everyday problems.

 

‘the creative application of science and technology to solve everyday problems’

 
Design Technology at The King’s (The Cathedral) School is being developed year on year to provide the most up to date and relevant design and manufacturing methods. Students are taught around a basis of equipping them with new skills and then asking them to apply these skills to a design problem, students are always encouraged to develop their drawing, CAD and CAM skills independently so as to enhance their design work.
 

Key Stage 3

All student study design in years 7 to 9, completing four projects per year covering:
· Resistant Materials
· Graphics
· Computer Aided Design & Manufacture
· Food Technology
· Textiles
· System & Control
· Product Design

Projects include, laser cut vase, can crusher, wind sock, LED mood light, cast pendant, MP3 speakers and a 'bag for life'. These projects develop a range of problem solving skills and industrially applicable manufacturing knowledge.
 

GCSE

In years 10 and 11 students can choose to study 3 distinct disciplines, all these follow the AQA syllabus:
Students build upon their Key Stage 3 learning, being provided with opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of design by applying them to everyday circumstances. Students are taught to be creative thinkers while still understanding the limits imposed by finance, materials and manufacturing processes. Students also develop their ability to manage their time carefully to produce high quality work within deadlines.

 

A-Level

At A-level students can choose to study Product Design in one of two areas:
A-level students are taught to look at the issues in the world at large to draw inspiration for their work, looking at sustainability, our changing population, education, developing societies, disabilities, the effects of a commercial society, products for public use and good old fashioned problem solving. A-level students are encouraged to think closely about the route they wish to take after school when choosing their coursework topic. Design staff will help students choose projects which will benefit their future studies, especially for students wishing to study design, fashion or engineering. Our students have progressed to study a wide range of university disciplines, including industrial design, architecture, fashion design, mechanical engineering and many more. There are annual visits to design lectures from eminent designers, annual trips to the New Designers exhibition. Also Year 12 students prepare and run our annual Art and Design Exhibition in conjunction with the Art department.
 

Design Technology CADCAM Resources

All design courses make use of CAD/CAM where possible, students are introduced to a full package of products as they progress through the school. TechSoft 2D design is introduced to students in year 7. In year 8 students learn how to use Google Sketch-up and as students progress into GCSE’s and A-levels they can adapt these skills to use industry standard software such as SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor, Revit, AutoCAD and 3D studio Max. Many of the projects undertaken make use of our CAM equipment including the laser cutting machine, CNC milling machines, RapMan 3d Printer and computer controlled embroidery machine.
 

Design Technology Student Home Learning Resources

The Design Technology Department has decided to purchase home use licences for many of the CAD programs taught in lessons. All GCSE and A-Level students studying Product Design are expected to install this software on their home computers to help further their studies. Students in Key Stage 3 are also encouraged to do so, especially if they are wishing to study Design at GCSE and above.
 
TechSoft 2D Design (available to borrow from the school library)
Google SketchUp (free internet download)
SolidWorks Educational Edition (available to borrow from the school library)
 
 

Design Technology Staff

Mr Dewi Matthews – Curriculum Area Manager - Product Design, Graphics, Resistant Materials,
Systems and Control, CADCAM
BA (Hons) 3d Design (furniture specialism)
 
Mr David Hughes – Product Design, Graphics, Resistant Materials, Systems and Control, CADCAM, ICTAC.
BSc (Hons) Industrial Product Design
 
Mrs Louise Varty – Responsible for Food and Textiles – Textiles, Food.
B Ed (Hons) in Fashion and Textiles
 
Miss Catharine Shortt - Textiles, Resistant Materials, Food Technology.
BA(Hons) Fashion
 
Mrs Louise Goffer - Food Technology
B Ed in Nutrition and Food Science
 
Miss Rebecca Chew - Product Design and Food Technician
 
Mrs Jane Kennedy - Textiles Technician

Mrs Helen Davis - Admin