Introduction to Faculty
The TED Faculty (Technology, Enterprise & Design) incorporates Business & Enterprise, ICT & Computing, and Design & Technology subjects.
We recognise the importance of encouraging the development of students as active learners and strive to enable them to be capable of competing successfully in the modern world.
Our lessons incorporate specialised subject skills linked to the real world and have a strong emphasis on enterprise capabilities so students can learn about living successfully as adults in their communities.
The TED Faculty uses specialist equipment and new technology is a key part of the lesson structures. We strive to offer an engaging and creative curriculum.
We also offer a range of enrichment activities such as speakers, after school activities, trips and visits to support learning in the classroom.
Extracurricular Opportunities
A series of successful curriculum linked trips and visits are proposed each year to enforce learning that takes place in the classrooms. Our calendar has featured visits such as Avon Rubber where specifically girls experienced what it was like working in Engineering as a career, Thorpe Park to learn what it is like as a business, Longleat to investigate Human Resources practices, Cadbury world to discover branding, the Design Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum to experience cutting edged design and Wadworths to experience a local workplace.
We are committed to reviewing our visits each year and planning appropriate experiences to enhance classroom learning.
We have also hosted many of our supporters through in class teams links to extend the experiences of students by enabling them to talk to specialists in their field or through in person masterclasses.
About the Department
The business curriculum is based upon building important life skills which include knowing about the business landscape locally, nationally and internationally and an individual’s place within it. Learners investigate local businesses and entrepreneurs and the skills and attributes they possess to be successful. They can then progress to investigate national and international organisations, how they are structured, how they brand and market themselves, their human resource practices and their finances. Key stage 5 includes personal finances in the business qualification but also we offer financial studies as a qualification too as we understand the importance of this life skill as well as its worth in the labour market.
Key Stage 3
There are no specific lessons for this subject at Key Stage 3 but there are links to business and enterprise in aspects of the work carried out in the other subjects taught at this level in the faculty.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 students can opt to study BTEC Tech Award in Enterprise as part the Key Stage 4 option process at Devizes School and further detailed information about this qualification is available in the Options Booklet
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 students can opt to study BTEC National in Business and also London Institute of Banking and Finance Diploma in Financial Studies and further detailed information about these qualifications are available in the 6th Form Prospectus.
About the Department
The Design & Technology department occupies six well-resourced rooms on a split site including the three main areas of study Food (Hospitality & Catering), Fashion & Textiles, and Product Design. We are committed to developing the needs of individual pupils to adapt to the challenge of an ever-evolving world.
In Design and Technology, students are encouraged to combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products that meet human needs. They learn to use current technologies and consider the impact of future technological developments. They learn to analyse, think creatively and solve problems within a design environment. A strong focus on green energy and sustainable design runs from KS3 projects all the way through to A-level examinations.
They undertake focused tasks that develop knowledge, skills, and their understanding of key topics. They engage in design and make assignments in different contexts. All pupils will experience lessons in Product Design, Food (Hospitality & Catering), Fashion & Textiles, throughout years 7 and 8. In year 9 students have the opportunity to specialise in two creative subjects where more in-depth projects run throughout the whole year giving a strong grounding for progression into KS4.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 students learn about a wide range of topics and develop their skills and understanding of these whilst undertaking projects in different material areas. All the courses are designed to help students prepare for further study in the different subjects offered within the department at KS4. Students spend two terms specialising in each area, Food, Textiles and Resistant Materials. Each rotation focuses on the following skills development through project work.
Research and Analysis - Students' ability to carry out research and analyse their findings
Specification - Students' ability to create a set of criteria that their product must meet
Design and Develop - Students' ability to generate a range of ideas and test them out and improve them
Plan and Make - Student's ability to plan the making of their product and demonstrate their skills making it
Evaluate - Students' ability to evaluate their work and the work of others.
Year 7
The Year 7 course covers the basics in designing and making and aims to help develop the students understanding of key design related topics, basic presentation and making skills in different material areas. The students undertake the following twelve-week modules.
Resistant Materials - Introduction to the workshop and workshop tools whilst working with wood – Pencil Box Project
Food (Hospitality & Catering) - Basic food preparation and safety incorporating cooking skills – Eating Well for Less Project (Healthy Eating).
Fashion & Textiles - An introduction into textiles, hand sewing and colour theory to inform the design and making of decorative felt creatures.
Year 8
The Year 8 course builds on the work covered in Year 7 and introduces further areas of study. The students undertake the following twelve-week modules.
Resistant Materials/Electronics - Introduction into Electronics and Computer Aided Design coupled with developing workshop skills – USB desk lamp project
Food (Hospitality & Catering) - Looking at nutrients and nutrition – cooking simple meals – Eat Like an Athlete Project
Fashion & Textiles - Developing textiles skills using sewing machines, looking at design, and the environment – Bag Project.
Year 9
The Year 9 course builds on the work covered in previous years and provides students with the opportunity to enhance their skills and understanding of Design and Technology in order to progress into KS4.
Resistant Materials/Product Design – Looking at combining CAD/CAM, resistant materials, and forming processes around user centred design.
Food (Hospitality & Catering) – Looking at developing skills and understand of this area further through a series of practical and theoretical tasks in projects such as baking and sustainable proteins
Fashion & Textiles – looking at designing and creating using advanced textiles theory and skills – Fabric dying, advanced sewing skills and fabric manipulation.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 students can opt to study Design and Technology as part of the option process and courses in Textiles, Resistant Materials and Hospitality and Catering are all available. More in depth information on the nature of these courses can be found in the Options Booklet.
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 students can opt to study Design and Technology subjects. More in depth information about A levels in Product Design and Food Science and Nutrition can be found in the 6th Form Prospectus
About the Department
The ICT & Computing curriculum is based upon building important life skills which include working as part of a team, problem solving using technology and being able to communicate successfully. Learners improve their wider knowledge of ICT in the real world through a variety of different topics and learn to develop these skills and the ability to use ICT across the curriculum. We also teach the basics of computing as designated by the national curriculum.
Key Stage 3
Year 7
The year 7 course covers the important skills that learners require to use ICT equipment appropriately and safely. The course helps to develop their knowledge and understanding of topics such as E Safety and cyber security as well as coding. The main focus is on enabling students to be confident digital citizens when using the Internet as well as giving them a brief introduction to some of the software that they will use in the future. Students start the process of creating a simple digital portfolio of their work.
Year 8
The year 8 course builds on the foundations that are set in Year 7. In the Year 8 course learners advance their knowledge and skills in new software and programming whilst also being introduced to new topic areas such as audio and vlogging. The thread of E safety, cyber security and confidence in using ICT Tools in real life has increased focus. Students continue adding to their simple digital portfolio of their work.
Year 9
The course in Year 9 builds on work in Year 7 and 8 and focuses on producing high quality solutions to real world briefs using familiar software. An increased emphasis is placed on learning to store information appropriately through their digital portfolio. The Year 9 course encourages students to work independently through designing mobile App’s and also includes learning more about the Online World. This prepares those learners looking to study ICT further at KS4.
Key Stage 4
The KS4 course improves students’ knowledge of the digital environment and their confidence with IT. They learn about data management issues and develop practical skills by planning and creating an integrated technological solution to communicate information. More in depth information about this course can be found in the Options Booklet.
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 students can opt to study BTEC National in IT, suitable for learners interested in the study of creating IT systems to manage and share information and are planning further progression in creative media education or IT apprenticeships.
More detailed information about this course can be found in the 6th Form Prospectus