Art, Design & Technology

The Art, Design and Technology Faculty is a dynamic and successful place to learn. Students are inspired to observe and question the world around them and encouraged to express themselves in a creative and independent way.

Across the faculty students might be solving a design problem, machining textile patterns, cooking a delicious meal, learning a programming language, or creating a work of art! All aspects of the curriculum will support individual growth through challenge.

Year 7
Art
- Mark Making Landscape project
- Gargoyles project
- Dream jar project
Year 8
Art
- Ocean project
- Art textiles portrait project
- Architecture project
Year 9
Art
- Animal based: mark making, pattern and scale
- Still life: printing and painting techniques
- Environments themed textiles project
Year 10
Fine Art
Textiles
- Personal investigation
Year 11
Fine Art
Textiles
- Personal investigation
Year 12
Fine Art

- Mark making and drawing tasks
- Scale
- Painting workshops
- Negative space
- Printmaking
- Layers and multiples
- Conceptual based thinking
- Personal investigation
Year 12
Textiles
- Surface and artist exploration
- Paper exploration
- Raised surfaces
- Design principles
- Personal investigation
Year 13
Fine Art
Textiles
- Personal investigation

Years 7, 8 and 9

Students follow all of the subject disciplines to begin their learning at Magdalen. They gain skills and knowledge across key areas of each discipline as shown below. The specific order of experiences may vary given the rotation through different specialist areas and the availability of resources.

Art - Blended curriculum of Fine Art and Creative Textiles. Students gain competence with a variety of media, techniques, artists and genres.

Year 7
DT
- Sustainability - animal habitat
- Biomimicry lamp
- Design challenge - reused items/ children's toy
Year 8
DT
- Desk tidy - inspired by an Art movement
- Mechanisms - pop up book design
- Design challenge - user centred and inclusive design
Year 9
DT
- Ergonomics - table tennis paddle; Design strategies
- Mechanisms - cams/ linkages/ gears - mechanical toys
- Metal project
Year 10
DT
- Design project
Year 11
DT
- Design project
Year 12
DT
- Group project - recycling points
- Design roulette
- H&S skill sticks

Design Tech – Students gain core knowledge across plastics, metals, timbers, electronics, CAD/CAM, papers and boards. The lessons ask students to solve real problems.

Food – Every student will explore food hygiene, safety, healthy eating, where their food comes from and food science

Year 10 & 11

Subject disciplines are offered to all students within the GCSE Options process. Each discipline in the ADT faculty provides increased challenge with time to develop personal responses alongside knowledge and skills.

Art -Students study either Fine Art or Creative Textile. Fine Art covers an understanding of technique, blended with an understanding of art history while Creative Textiles uses the same concepts but with a focus on fabric, threads and surface decoration and pattern

Design Tech - Students follow either a Graphics or Resistant Materials pathway. Both cover theoretical knowledge and practical applications; using papers and boards in Graphics, while Resistant Materials uses timbers and plastics.

Year 7
Food
- Hygiene and Safety: Eatwell guide
- Food science
- Food provenance
- Food commodities
- Bake off competition
Year 8
Food
- Hygiene and Safety: Healthy eating guidelines
- Functions of ingredients
- Food Science
- Food provenance
- Macronutrients
- Bake off competition
Year 9
Food
- Hygiene and Safety: Nutrition
- Food ethics
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Vitamins and minerals
- Food from around the world challenge
Year 10
Food
- Macronutrients
- Micronutrients
- Food science
- Factors affecting food choice
- Food provenance
Year 11
Food
- High level practical skills and meal preparation
- Food investigation task

Food – the subject discipline develops students’ knowledge, understanding and skills to apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. Pupils learn about improving lives through better knowledge of food, where it comes from and how it affects our bodies. Students will undertake interesting science experiments to explore the function and chemical properties of ingredients, and to improve their own cooking practice.

Years 12 & 13

The ADT faculty offers four disciplines for further study in the Sixth Form. As in other subjects there is an increase in challenge, complexity and content.

Art & Creative Textiles - Both A Level pathways will allow students to explore their creativity through a range of styles and techniques. By the end of the course, students will have produced a portfolio of work and a 2,000-word thematic essay. Both courses are taught in small groups, and there is an emphasis on guided practical work. Visits to local and national art exhibitions are woven into the courses to expose students to a range of artists, designers and styles.

Design Tech - This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, such as the creative industry. Students will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning in to practice by producing prototypes of their choice. Students can personalise their major NEA project as a stepping-stone to the next stage in their career. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

CAREERS: HOW CAN YOU TAKE STUDYING ADT FURTHER?

Career links with Art and Design

Career links with Design Technology

Career links with Food and Nutrition

Career links with Product Design

Career links with Textiles