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DT

DT at Heath Mount comprises 3 subjects: Textiles, Food Technology and Resistant Materials. We have a textiles room, food technology kitchen and a fully equipped workshop including a 3D Printer, scroll saws, CAD milling machine and sander.  Our expert DT teachers inspire children to become autonomous, creative problem solvers with many new practical skills. 

To see the DT Curriculum Map for 2023-24 Click Here

Textiles

a senior girl works on some pyjama bottoms using the sewing machines in the textiles roomPupils are encouraged to develop their creative ideas as soon as they arrive in the Textiles Room. Current pupils in Year 3 learn how to design and make a Teddy Bear Waistcoat using their own design ideas, whilst learning the basics of sewing and how to safely use the basic equipment.  As they move through the year groups the children complete more demanding project briefs as well as using more advanced equipment. Year 6 pupils learn how to use the sewing machines whilst developing their creative ideas to make basic soft furnishings to decorate their bedrooms. Year 7 pupils learn about recycling and environmental issue, for example designing denim bags from used denim items and Year 8 pupils learn about making and using transfers.

pupils pose with their colourful tote bags dyed with the flour resist method in textiles lessons

Food Technology

A Year 6 boy prepares breaded chicken fillets in the food tech kitchenFood technology lessons teach children about healthy eating, culinary techniques and about international cooking styles. Pupils prepare food using basic kitchen equipment and start to learn how to develop their own recipes. By year 5 pupils learn more advanced techniques and by Year 8 they have the skills in place to survive future student life with a sound knowledge of popular dishes.  

 

Resistant Materials

A girl poses with her burger monster creation in DT

The resistant materials workshop takes children through the  whole design process – designing, making and evaluating. Pupils have to consider commercially available products before designing their own. They work through design briefs which become more complex as they progress through the school. In Year 3, they start with a simple ‘burger monster’ project which includes digital designing and the use of simple pneumatics to make it move. Later years learn how to make basic circuits, structures involving team work, ‘rocket’ cars fired under the pressure of pneumatics using a range of different psi’s, graphic design, CAD/CAM techniques, transfer printing and the use of a 3D printer. A dedicated computer suite within the workshop is used for design work, the 3D printing and the CAD milling machine. It is hoped that by the time pupils leave Heath Mount they will be able to complete a range of practical tasks that they would be able to expand upon and take with them into everyday life.