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Due to the current situation, departmental curriculum plans are not currently available.

Here is the Cowley COVID resuming plan as an interim guide.

Curriculum aim

Design and Technology
Design and Technology is an exciting and creative subject whereby students are given the opportunity to engage with the design process, problem solve and work with real life briefs. Students will develop their knowledge and skills through a variety of design and make tasks.

Design and Technology includes problem solving which develops students forward thinking, independence, confidence and originality.

Design and Technology enables students to select specialist pathways that provide them with a range of opportunities for the future and world of work.

 High expectations from staff who deliver a range of experiences including both traditional and modern techniques including CADCAM. We aim to instil in pupils the value of technology and how it plays a significant part in the world around us. With the support from a dedicated team, inspirational and motivational, experienced, staff. We strive to nurture our students to become the next generation of creative practitioners and discerning consumers.

 Beyond the classroom students will have a better understanding of practical skills and knowledge that can be applied outside of the classroom and into the outside world. These transferable skills ensure students leave with a well-rounded knowledge base.

Food studies

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”

 Food is a vital part of our daily lives and is essential for life. As our students become adults and have busy lives, it is easy to choose food which has been ready prepared. However, it is more nutritious and often cheaper to cook simple, delicious food.

At Cowley, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of nutrition, healthy eating, food preparation, hygiene, cooking techniques, and sensory characteristics of food.

• We aim to give our students vital life skills that enable them to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life.
• We encourage the development of high skills and resilience in a safe environment, allowing students to demonstrate commitment and act on feedback.
• We empower students to enable them to follow a recipe and substitute ingredients and cooking methods as appropriate, demonstrating an understanding of food choices e.g. veganism, allergies and healthy eating.
• Develop understanding that will allow students to become discerning consumers of food products, enabling them to participate in society in an active and informed manner.
• Engage with students to encourage them to understand the environmental factors which affect the inequalities in food distribution on a global scale and give them an understanding of the need to minimise ‘food waste’ starting with their own practise.
• Allow students to explore a number of multicultural perspectives concerning food. Students will enhance their understanding, appreciation and acceptance of people from a variety of cultural backgrounds through the preparation of food from different countries.

Our hope is that through Food Studies, students are provided with a context through which to explore the richness, pleasure and variety that food adds to life.

The national curriculum for Design Technology (Food) Key stage 3 aims to ensure that all pupils:

• understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health
• cook a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes so that they are able to feed themselves and others a healthy and varied diet
• become competent in a range of cooking techniques [for example, selecting and preparing ingredients; using utensils and electrical equipment; applying heat in different ways; using awareness of taste, texture and smell to decide how to season dishes and combine ingredients; adapting and using their own recipes]
• understand the source, seasonality and characteristics of a broad range of ingredients

Curriculum structure

Throughout KS3 students will be given an experience of Design and Technology through a range of materials and ingredients. The aim is to provide students with an experience of a variety of new technologies and opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding of technological processes, products and their manufacture. This helps to prepare students to combine their design and making skills and understand the contribution they can make to life and work in an increasingly technological society. KS3 students will study Resistant Materials, Graphics, Textiles and Food studies.

KS3 Food studies at Cowley will equip pupils with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. Our curriculum will encourage students to cook and enable them to make informed decisions about the food they eat now and in later life.

In KS4 and 5 students can choose the following Vocational courses that are tailored to prepare learners for a career in their chosen sector. We offer Construction, Engineering, Art and Design – Textiles and Graphics. We follow Edexcel BTEC Level 2/3 specifications, WJEC Level 1 and 2 Award and ASDAN Construction Vocational taster

Curriculum in action

Curriculum Beyond the Classroom
Students have opportunities to be involved in workshops with designers, visits to museums and galleries, trip to Jaguar Land Rover car plant in Speke.

Year 12 Construction students partake in 2 days work experience across a wide range of trades within the surrounding areas. Year 13 Engineering students visit industrial environments relating to current topics today.

Lunchtime coursework catch up clubs are offered to students.

Subject Expertise
Staff regularly share ideas with colleagues in other schools and have meetings to discuss course changes and the sharing good practice and resources.

Staff have regular contact with exam board subject officers.

Staff keep up to date with subject updates and any new technologies and software’s.

Staff attend subject specific CPD training.

Destinations
There is a clear link through our vocational courses which enable student’s clear progression through Level 1/2/3, then onto further education.

We also support students by helping them create an interview portfolio for creative subjects.