Design and Technology
Developing life skills and building confidence
The Design and Technology courses at Millfield Prep School aim to provide an opportunity for all pupils to develop vital life skills, as well as awareness and understanding of products and the needs of society. By way of its fully interactive hands on approach, Design Technology gives pupils a chance to develop a range of practical skills. The high satisfaction levels amongst pupils are testament to the value of the subject in raising self-esteem, as pupils feel that they have learnt skills which will be of great use to them in later life, and feel immensely proud when they have a finished product which they have made with their own hands.
A wide range of practical and design skills
We aim to develop pupils understanding and skills in designing, planning and problem solving through a wide range of processes. Key aims of the courses from Years 3 – 8 are to raise pupil awareness of materials, develop individual and team working skills, teach pupils how to use a range of power tools, hand tools and equipment, improve their accuracy and measuring skills, give them a good understanding of safety, teach them how to improve appearance when finishing a product, teach pupils the appropriate use of technical vocabulary and help them to develop a knowledge over the years of the practicalities and mechanics of how things work.
Pupils get the opportunity to work with textiles (kites are made in year 6, which includes introduction to the use of electronic sewing machines), investigate and research man-made and natural structures, programme electronic models, use thermoplastics, learn about graphic communication (the development of freehand drawing and third angle projection), use computer controlled devices, create practical circuit applications, use electronic kits and carry out electro-mechanical control work including computer control, and use Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture. Pupils begin to study Food Technology from Year 5 onwards.
A hands on approach to learning
Pupils initially start making relatively simple objects such as wooden dice, spinning tops, mechanically made badges and string puppets. This moves on to making toys which include practical electric circuits, and so learning soldering techniques in year 5, and the designing and building of a quartz clock in year 7. They will study the designing of homes and rooms, houses, both contemporary and from different times and cultures in earlier years, and the development of bridges throughout the ages in year 7. All pupils are taught from Year 3 to 8 by specialist staff in a new and well equipped suite.
