Resistant Materials

Resistant Materials is an exciting subject to study at Key Stage Four. It provides opportunities for students to solve all sorts of problems in a practical way by designing and making things.

The Resistant Materials Department is staffed by a team of specialists with a great deal of knowledge in the field.

• Mr Willey (Head of Faculty)
• Ms Charlton (Head of Department)
• Mrs Hendry (Technology Teacher)
• Mr Gordon (Technology Technician)
• Mr Lindberg (Technology Technician)

Key Stage 3

This is an exciting and interesting subject to study at Key Stage 3. It provides opportunities for pupils to solve all sorts of problems in a practical way.  In Resistant Materials we concentrate on working with and making things from wood, metal and plastic.  Pupils make puzzles, key rings, ghost trains.  In year 8 pupils now get to opt for GCSE REsistant Materials and Year 9 is a foundation year, focusing an enhancing practical and design skills in preperation for year 10.

Key Stage 4

The course allows pupils to study towards a GCSE in Resistant Materials.  60% of this Course is achievable in the Department through a design folder and a practical project.  The other 40% is through an external examination at the end of Year 11.

Year 10

In Year 10 students complete two projects, one a footstool, the other a children's toy. These projects allow the students to develop both their design & workshop skills and give them a finished product which may be taken home to enjoy.  Pupils also learn wood turing skills and learn how to turn such things as bowls and pens.

Year 11

In Year 11 the students undertake their major projects which allow them to build on their design skills developing their ideas. Major projects are chosen from several design briefs set by the exam board, AQA. Past years have seen students building windmills, garden furniture, children’s toys and candle holders for instance. The students retain their work at the end of the course, we have recently started to work with Westgarth Primary school, and out pupils are designing and making equipment for the school play areas and gardens.

Annual Technology Exhibition

At the end of June each year, all work completed during the course is displayed in the school's Annual Technology Exhibition. This gives students the chance to show & talk about their work to parents, guests and visitors to the school and it is a great way for us to all celebrate pupil achievement.