Aims
The Technology & Design curriculum gives students the opportunity to study Technology and Engineering two key elements of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) which is being promoted both nationally and internationally. The world is changing and STEM job opportunities continue to grow. Since 1990 employment in STEM occupations has grown by 79%. Girls with STEM qualifications at all levels are sought after by employers. STEM related jobs are well paid and provide opportunity to our students at St. Mary's College.
The aim of Technology and Design is to provide pupils with the understanding to function effectively in the rapidly changing world. Through this subject pupils will have the opportunity to become more aware of how things are made and how they work.
Active involvement in Technology and Design provides opportunity for pupils to think, plan, reason, manufacture and evaluate. We actively develop the pupil’s ability to think and plan in a logical sequence to pursue goals, which can be realistically achieved. The subject brings together and utilises knowledge and skills from other curriculum areas especially in problem solving activities.
Technology and Design requires pupils to use a variety of materials, components and processes in the design and manufacture of products. It also offers pupils opportunities to experience the personal satisfaction and enjoyment. It instils in pupils the discipline of safe working practice.
The Technology and Design Department offers pupils the opportunity to study the subject at GCSE, AS and A Level. We also host many events throughout the year which allow students to find out more about various career pathways, third level courses and local employers. Our annual Engineering Week in March won the over all UK Community Education Award for The STEM Innovation 2019.
St. Mary's College Engineering Week
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Visit our Twitter feed! @StMarysDerryTD
Awards
Mr Gavin Molloy – Silver Teaching Pearson’s Award
Mrs Clare Doherty – Crest Award and Inspirational Educator Award
Finalist (top three in the UK) & Regional Winners Jamie's (Oliver) Design a Restaurant Competition
Blazin Digital Road Safety competition winners Maeve Stillman & Finalist Simone Crossan
Winner of Engineers Ireland Engineers Week competition - Molly Meehan
VEX Robotics Competition - Taylor Hale, Ines Mc Caul Prazeres, Courtney O Kane
Faraday Engineering Competition
Young Enterprise
Entrepreneurship Week Award – High Impact Host
Irish News Finalist Career Inspiration Award Finalists
Engineering Week - Dee Kehoe Director of Engineers Ireland described St Mary's College as 'the poster school' for Engineering Week in Ireland
University of Ulster Insight into Computing and Engineering placements Eirinn Baird and Shannon Knox
Night of Ambition Celebration, Belfast
Ulster University Engineering Step Up Graduates
Saturday School Technology
STEAM Club for KS 5 and Year 8 Technology Club
Robotics Club
Lego League
E & I Engineering Work Placement
Leaders Award Northern Ireland Engineers Winners Ava Connelly, Niamh McCallion, Angel Breslin, Kate Nicholas McMonagle and Daisy Matthews
UK Community Education Awards WINNER The STEM Innovation Award for Engineering Week
Ava Canney Hasbro Ms Monopoly bursary winner
Maeve Stillman GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year
Staff
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Mrs Clare Doherty - Head of Technology & Design
Royal Academy of Engineering STEM Teacher Coordinator
Mr Gavin Molloy
Mrs Mairead Flanagan
Mr Sean McBride
Mr Gerry McLaughlin (Senior Technician)
KS3
The study and practices of Technology and Design help us in making sense of the world in terms of the practical issues of design and their close relationship with the values of society and also in the consideration of how products of enrich our lives.
Our students at Key Stage 3 have the opportunity to be involved in a number of design and manufacture tasks as well as the use of new technology including CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture).
The Key Stage 3 curriculum is delivered through key projects each year, these are:
Year 8 – Spaghetti Tower, Frisbee, Metal Pen Holder, Graphics, Pencil Case, CAD
Year 9 – Recycled Bird feeder, Mood Light, Photo Frame, Trinket Box, Computer Control, CAD
Year 10 – Sweet Dispenser, CAD, Speaker, Jewellery, ICT Task
Projects are evaluated and updated on a regular basis taking account of pupils’ interests and advances in technology.
GCSE
Technology and Design
Technology and Design allows you to learn about Product Design. It also provides a good foundation if you would like to study technology and design related subjects at a more advanced level.
What will I study?
Unit 1 Technology and Design Core Content Exam (25% of final mark - modular examination May/June Year 11):
- Manufacturing
- Electronics
- Mechanical Control Systems
- Computer Control Systems
- Pneumatic Systems and Control
Unit 2 Optional Area of Study Product Design (25% of final mark - modular examination May/June Year 12):
- Design & Innovation
- Manufacturing Practices
- Materials Components and Fabrication
- Market Influences
- Social Responsibility of Product Design
Unit 3 Design and Manufacturing Project (50% of final mark - controlled assessment submitted in April Year 12):
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In product design you will design and make fully functioning product.
Design Portfolio: A ten page A3 design portfolio.
Practical Product: An individual hand crafted product designed by the student and manufactured to a high standard.
Post 16
Technology and Design
In GCE Technology and Design you will study technology and design in a range of contexts including home, school, recreation, community, business and industry. You will learn about harnessing the resources of people and the earth we inhabit through the creation of products and/systems.
This specification gives you the opportunity to get involved in the world of design. It will equip you with the skills required to take an initial idea through the process of design, utilising a range of scientific and engineering principles, with the ultimate goal of realising a practical outcome. In You will also investigate and anlayse existing products and design manufacture and evaluate your own product.
AS Units:
AS 1: Design Materials and Product Design Examination
(50% AS/20% A2)
Student will have the opportunity to learn about Design and Materials and also study their specialised area Product Design.
AS 2: Product Development Coursework
(50% AS/20% A2)
In this second unit students have the opportunity to will apply knowledge and skills covered in Unit AS 1 and to carry out a product development exercise on an existing product or an aspect of it involving the production of a design folder and a developed product outcome.
A2 Units:
A2 1: Product Design Examination
(30% A2)
Students have the opportunity in this unit to further their knowledge and understanding which they gained from their optional sections in AS 1. They will study in greater detail than at AS level the specialised area of Product Design.
A2 2: Product Design Coursework
(30% A2)
Students will apply knowledge and skills covered in all units but their final work must reflect their specialist area of study Product Design. Students will carry out a design and make exercise involving the production of a design folder and a product outcome.
Industrial Links St. Mary’s College Technology and Design Department works closely with local companies and third level course providers to enrich the learning experiences of pupils.
- E & I Engineering
- AE Global (formerly All Pipe Engineering)
- BubbleBum Booster Seat
- Calcast
- Seagate
- Northern Ireland Electricity
- Invista
- Maydown Precision Engineering
- Ulster University
- Queens University
- North West Regional College
- Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Examination Performance
GCSE Technology & Design| GCSE | No. Entered | A* - C | A* - E |
| Technology | 30 | 87% | 100% |
| AS / A2 | No. Entered | A* - C | A* - E |
| AS Technology | 20 | 75% | 100% |
| A2 Technology | 5 | 100% | 100% |
Extra Curricular
Throughout the school year both teams and individual students are regularly entered for competitions which promote STEM and Engineering. This year we had numerous successes in competitions including The Leaders Award If You Were and Engineer 'What would you do?', W5 Dragons Den, Lego League, Youth Industrial Strategy as well as projects qualified for the Big Bang competition in Birmingham.
Pupils participate in STEM events regularly including careers workshops, role models presentations and visits to local companies. We also work closely with third level course providers and past pupils to give students at all levels accesses to STEM role models and an opportunity to learn more about the excellent pathways available to girls in Engineering and related careers.
The Technology Department also run two award winning careers events during the academic year:
- Global Engineering Week in February
- Entrepreneurship Week in November
- Toast and Technology – an annual display of Northern Ireland GCSE, AS and A2 students exlempar examination practical work in June
- TeachmeetTD
The Royal Academy of Engineering flagship educational programme Connecting STEM Teachers Teacher Coordinator Mrs Clare Doherty (Head of Technology & Design) termly brings together a regional network of STEM teachers from across the country who work together to encourage young learners to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects in primary and secondary schools. The role of a teacher coordinator is to train teachers, deliver engaging engineering projects, share good practice with other teachers and establish links with local industry, past pupils and ambassadors. Enhanced learning in the form of The Amelia Earhart STEM Challenge annual collaborative project for Y9/10 students was launched in 2020.
