Students
Within Technology College students have the option of working in two high performing departments, ICT and Design and Technology. The information below outlines, in brief, how each Key Stage is constructed.
Design Technology
Design and Technology continues to support the learning needs for all the students at Thomas Deacon Academy. The department offers a diverse range of educational experiences that engage Design and Make activities.
Key Stage 3 offers a two-year programme that delivers experiences, allowing students to engage with Resistant Materials, Textiles, Food and elements of system and control; all rely upon students gaining competence and confidence in designing and making, thus preparing them for Key Stage 4.
Key Stage 4 requires students to specialise their understanding of Designing and Technology in one area. Again the choices of subjects are extensive and cater for all interests and levels. The courses available are; Textiles, Graphic Products, Engineering, Food, Product Design, Construction and Hospitality Food and Catering.
Key Stage 5 continues to create students that have genuine interest in the realm of Design and Make; as a department we continually help to enable students to achieve their career goals; The courses offered are Product Design, Graphic Products and Textiles.
In addition to the subjects on offer the Design and Technology Department offers a range of opportunities and schemes that our students can benefit from. Please see the attachments below.
Thomas Deacon Academy and the Royal Academy of Engineering
Wednesday, 11th July
Introduction
As a school we were delighted to be invited to the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. This was an exciting opportunity that was enjoyed by all of those who attended both students and staff alike.
The invite was as a result of an initiative been set up by Academy’s education department. They are planning to launch a new STEM (Science. Technology, Engineering & Maths) resource in its new Engineering Forum and needed a school to test the facility, we were delighted that they chose the Thomas Deacon Academy.
The Royal Academy of Engineering
The Royal Academy of Engineering is the UK’s national academy for engineering, their aim is to bring together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering.
As a school we continue to develop our STEM Initiative so to be able to work with the Academy was of huge significance to all three of our STEM related curriculum areas and colleges, namely Maths, Science and Technology.
Overview of the day
A total of 17 students attended the day, they were selected for the trip as they had both an aptitude and positive attitude to one or more of the STEM subjects. The day consisted of an Engineering challenge in which the students had to design, make and launch a model racing wheelchair. They were asked to investigate the science and mathematics of wheelchairs and formulate an answer to the big question:
Whose medal is it? The athlete’s or the engineer’s?
During the day they consulted with a wheelchair user who discussed the differences between a racing and a day to day wheelchair. He explained the needs of the user as well as the distinct differences between the two types of chairs. The final outcome saw the students present their work to a series of industry experts, Education and STEM ambassadors. The students enjoyed the day as did the staff who attended .
A representative from the Royal Academy of Engineers said of the day “We really enjoyed working with your students who were an excellent advertisement for the Thomas Deacon Academy. We were particularly impressed with their ability to engineer some very imaginative solutions to the practical challenge.”