Curriculum Intent

The intent of our Technology curriculum is to deliver a broad, balanced and ambitious suite of programmes of study that consider the curriculum in its widest sense, ensuring that all pupils, no matter their starting points, backgrounds and individual needs, are afforded the same opportunities and an equal chance to succeed by giving them the knowledge, skills and personal attributes that they need when entering the workplace or next phase of education. 

At all Key Stages, pupils will engage with scaffolded, carefully considered opportunities to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts. Through evaluation of past and present Design and Technology disciplines, they develop a critical understanding of how products within those subjects’ impact on daily life and the wider world developing a sense of achievement, self-awareness and fulfilment in the creation of work that develops a degree of self-knowledge as learners, as producers and consumers, and as visually and culturally aware young people.

KS3 contains craft-based focused projects that provide a strong foundation for KS4. We offer students four different paths that collectively satisfy the aims of the KS3 National Curriculum, which are Product Design, 3-D Design, Textiles and Food. As these are all available to pursue at KS4 we interpret the requirements of national strategies to provide schemes of work that provide a solid foundation for the demands at GCSE by identifying starting points, waypoints and end points. KS3 is an opportunity to provide those creative experiences that will bridge the gap disadvantage in school, to offer individual solutions for pupils to access the foundational knowledge pupils need in order to access and understand the further curriculum. We use Year 7 to consolidate and extend what was taught at KS1 and KS2 and teach at Novice level. We offer pupils a first-hand understanding of the importance of design and help pupils develop practical skills that effectively joins the knowledge, skills, and attributes learned within school to wider society and the world of work. 

KS4 is a strong foundation for KS5 and we interpreting the requirements of GCSE courses to provide schemes of work that and reflect the employment opportunities in our particular locality, and also provide a solid foundation for the demands at A Level by identifying starting points, waypoints and end points.  KS4 is taught at Intermediate level and for all pupils is, challenging, supportive and relevant which enables all learners to gain a range of practical skills and understanding that will enable them to have the cultural capital to participate in wider society with confidence.

KS5 is a strong foundation for life outside school and allows pupils to progress onto University Degrees or Apprenticeships. We interpret the requirements of A Level courses to guide individual learning pathways and is taught at Advanced level, encouraging pupils to apply theoretical knowledge & practical skills to a range of learning opportunities. 

Excellence within Technology would mean each pupil leaving Blue Coat with an interest, curiosity, enjoyment and confidence in looking at, exploring and making in Technology related disciplines with a sound grasp of practical skills that would enable them to have the cultural capital to participate with confidence in wider society.