Creative Technology
Our Faculty Mission Statement is:
In Creative Technology we develop pupils as global Catholic citizens through our promotion of excellent innovation, practical life skills, teamwork and co-operation. We enhance pupils’ understanding of the world around them by focusing on the environment, sustainability and our family values. We encourage them to consider how their faith impacts their social and moral choices both in our school and wider community.
The Creative Technology department aims to build global Catholic citizens by providing all pupils with an enriching experience within their lessons and extra-curricular activities. Through our KS3 curriculum diet, we aim to nurture intellectual curiosity and encourage a lifelong interest in the subject by promoting risk taking and developing problem solving skills. We strive to ensure that every pupil, irrespective of their starting point is given the skills and knowledge they need to meet their potential. Throughout this process, each pupil is given an insight into the diverse career potential of the subject.
Creative Technology is about providing opportunities for pupils to develop their capability, combining their investigating, designing and making skills with knowledge and understanding in order to create quality products. At St James’ this is achieved through the implementation of the ‘iterative’ design process. Iterative design is the process of designing new products through the cycle of testing, prototyping and continual improvement. Embedded throughout each of the projects is the Core and Specialist subject knowledge alongside cross-curricular Mathematics and Science requirements, to fully prepare pupils for their GCSE examinations. All of which is carefully planned to maximise the 15 hours available for each year group.
Demonstrating a thorough understanding of the design process is one strand of the Creative Technology GCSE. In addition, pupils need to acquire a general knowledge of all material categories and systems but then be able to specialise on one specific area. With this in mind, at KS3 we provide all pupils with both a Textiles and Resistant Materials rotation.
During their time in Textiles pupils:
- Develop efficient and safe hand stitch skills, learning a variety of different techniques to assist with hand crafting a 3D product
- Understand the importance of sustainability in our lives
- Demonstrate safe and effective use of irons
- Develop safe sewing machine control skills, acknowledging all safety measures required
- Develop a variety of colouring fabric methods, i.e. screen printing and develop an understanding of methods of manipulating fabric
- Are given an introduction as to why ergonomics and anthropometrics is imperative to design
During their time in Resistant Materials pupils:
- Develop their knowledge and understanding of the design process
- Begin to appreciate the importance of the client-designer-user relationship
- Experiment with a range of creative design strategies when generating ideas
- Demonstrate an understanding of different 2D and 3D drawing methods including CAD
- Investigate and evidence a range of different manufacturing techniques including traditional and CAM
- Understand the importance of testing and evaluation
Textiles is a fun and creative subject, which allows pupils to demonstrate and learn a variety of essential life skills. Pupils are exposed to new decorative techniques and are able to experience fabric manipulation. Whilst doing this, pupils explore some of the moral and social issues relating to the Textiles industry. Pupils develop knowledge about the origin of materials and the impact synthetic materials can have on the environment. Invaluable knowledge which will be relevant throughout their lives.
Resistant Materials are part of everyday life and is constantly evolving. Our projects focus on problem solving, exploring design strategies and developing practical skills within a specific material area(s), allowing pupils to manufacture high quality prototypes. They will learn about commercial processes and careers in related industries, as well as developing core transferable skills, such as collaboration and communication. All of which should prepare them fully to become more responsible contributors to society.
- Curriculum Progression Model – Textiles – Year 7
- Curriculum Progression Model – Textiles – Year 8
- Curriculum Progression Model – Textiles – Year 9
- Curriculum Progression Model – Textiles – Year 10
- Curriculum Progression Model – Textiles – Year 11
- Curriculum Progression Model – Resistant Materials – Year 7
- Curriculum Progression Model – Resistant Materials – Year 8
- Curriculum Progression Model – Resistant Materials – Year 9
- Curriculum Progression Model – Resistant Materials – Year 10
- Curriculum Progression Model – Resistant Materials – Year 11
ICT and Computing
Our aim is to promote the use of ICT across the whole curriculum at St James’, building global Catholic citizens through the development of knowledge and transferable skills. We recognise that Computing and ICT is a fundamental part of everyday life and as such, pupils are encouraged to use ICT outside of school wherever possible in order to prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
Pupils will be encouraged to appreciate the cross-curricular nature of ICT and will be guided in use of ICT hardware and software in other areas of the curriculum in order to achieve the best possible examination success. Pupils will be shown how to use computer programs for revision purposes and to use the Internet for research whilst appreciating that not all data on the Internet can be relied upon. We will aim to demonstrate the importance of ICT and Computing as a key skill in further and higher education, the world of work and the community around them.
Pupils are given the opportunity to build on their existing knowledge and skills whilst being fully prepared for Key Stage 4. Topics covered during ICT and Computing lessons include:
- E-Safety
- Legal, ethical and environmental issues
- Spreadsheet software and modelling
- Computational thinking, algorithms and programming
- Binary and logic
- Animation and graphics
- Emerging technologies
Pupils will study ICT and Computing throughout their time at St James’ regardless of whether or not they choose it as an option subject at Key Stage 4. The knowledge and skills they learn will be invaluable for when they leave school both at Key Stage 5 and in the workplace.
We hope that many pupils will continue to develop their ICT and computing skills, and for those who choose to pursue a career in that field, they will have a solid foundation of knowledge which they can build upon through further qualifications and work experience.
Food and Nutrition
Food and Nutrition at St James’ aims to build global Catholic citizens by equipping students 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 a wide range of further learning opportunities and career pathways as well as develop vital life skills that enable them to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life.
The Food and Nutrition schemes of work are designed to develop the life essential skills required. Allowing pupils the opportunity to practise their skills and become confident in a kitchen during Key Stage 3.
During their time in Food and Nutrition pupils:
- Demonstrate effective and safe cooking skills by planning, preparing and cooking using a variety of food commodities, cooking techniques and equipment
- Develop knowledge and understanding of the functional properties and chemical processes as well as the nutritional content of food and drinks
- Understand the relationship between diet, nutrition and health, including the physiological and psychological effects of poor diet and health
- Understand the economic, environmental, ethical, and socio-cultural influences on food availability, production processes, and diet and health choices
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of functional and nutritional properties, sensory qualities and microbiological food safety considerations when preparing, processing, storing, cooking and serving food
- Understand and explore a range of ingredients and processes from different culinary traditions (traditional British and international), to inspire new ideas or modify existing recipes
Food is a compulsory subject at Key Stage 3 and an essential need in life. By participating in Food and Nutrition pupils not only gain a wide range of life skills, but also broaden their taste preferences and exposure to new flavours. The Food and Nutrition curriculum promotes enjoyment and immediate outcomes where pupils can celebrate their successes and a culture of competition is formed. They learn how to produce nutritional meals for themselves and their families whilst gaining an understanding of where food has come from and how transportation can impact on the environment. Pupils also explore the many moral issues relating to food production. Pupils learn to work as part of a team and develop the skills of multi-tasking. They understand the importance of good personal hygiene and how to store food correctly to reduce the risk of food borne diseases.
Business Studies
Business helps to develop global Catholic citizens by teaching pupils fundamental skills, and developing their knowledge and understanding of the world in which we live.
Pupils study how businesses operate in the real world and investigate existing businesses to enhance their classroom learning. Learning about the economy and how it operates enables the pupils to have an understanding of concepts that will ultimately affect their lives, such as interest rates, business laws, globalisation, finance and others.
Business provides an excellent stepping stone for further study at A Level, degree level and beyond. The study of business can also open the door to a vast range of career paths.
Topics that are covered in Business are:
- Business in the real world
- Influences on business
- Business operations
- Human resources
- Marketing
Business is a popular option at Key Stage 4 and many pupils go on to study the subject further. It promotes excellent communication and team work which are invaluable skills for any pupil.
