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Fairfield High School for Girls

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Our Curriculum

Technology

The Study of Technology at Fairfield is covered by a variety of subjects including Art, Food Technology, Textiles, Product Design, Electronics and Business Studies.

Technology is constantly changing and evolving and it is our job as designers to work with that technological change, embrace it and to improve products and ideas. In Technology we encourage pupils to become creative but also to take risks as we embrace these technological changes.

Issues such as sustainability, global warming, landfill, and cultural considerations all form a part of designing and making in today's society and will become more increasingly important in the future.

We want girls to be open to new ideas but also to be able to analyse products and processes to enable them to make informed choices, with the creativity to adapt and problem solve for themselves.

Although women form about 50% of the workforce, only a fraction of them actually embark on careers in engineering, architecture, designing or become entrepreneurs. We see it as one of our roles to encourage pupils to consider these careers as viable options and ones in which they can excel.

Year 7

Introduction to subject

Using equipment, materials and components

Health and safety

Basic skill practise

Projects:

Textiles: Aliens! - developing a soft toy suitable for a young child using basic machine and hand sewing skills.

Food: Basic cooking and food preparation skills

Product Design: Moving display - developing a moving display focusing on wood and plastic skills as well as using levers and linkages.

Electronics: Night light - designing for a client and introduction to basic circuitry.

Art: Self-Image and Colour.

Year 8

Skills building

Further materials research and knowledge

Designing to client specifications

Research into designers and influential movements

Projects:

Textiles: Lunch bags - using applique and embroidery to develop a bag for a given client

Food: Healthy eating - skills building practicals

Product Design: Picture frame - development of wood working skills to design a frame for a client taking their needs into account.

Electronics: Steady hand game - further development of circuit knowledge, working with wood, plastic and graphics.

Art: Natural Forms, Cubism and Patterns in Nature.

Business Studies: Manufacturing, External Impacts on Business and Business Ownership.

Year 9

Further skills development

Introduction to new skills and techniques

Designing to client specifications

Projects:

Textiles: Play cube - designing and making for children's needs, development of more complex and varied techniques, inclusion of smart materials.

Food: Main meals - more complex skills introduced in double lessons to allow for more advanced 'whole' meals to be made, local sourcing and sustainability considered.

Product Design: Illuminated mirror project - further development of wood skills and/or plastic skills, use of CAD/CAM and electronic components.

Art: Record Cover Design, Aboriginal Art and Islamic Art.

Business Studies: Business Finance

Year 10

Theory - split over Years 10 and 11 - all subjects cover the topics below, which are contextualised:

Knowledge

Understanding and application of materials/ingredients/primary and secondary components

Methods of production - one off and industrial manufacturing methods

Sustainability

Cultural design

Ethical production

Projects: Controlled Assessment Projects - as appropriate, as dictated by the new specifications