At Burton Borough School, our KS3 Design & Technology curriculum is crafted to ignite creativity, foster innovation, and build practical skills through a diverse range of design-and-make projects. Pupils explore textiles, product design, graphics, and resistant materials while developing a deep understanding of sustainability, cultural awareness, and technical processes.

Creative Exploration & Practical Skill Building

Through hands-on projects such as Ugly Dolls, clocks, treat machines, cultural cushions, jewellery, and rucksacks, students learn to:

• Use tools and machinery safely and confidently, including coping saws, tenon saws, disc sanders, pillar drills, and sewing machines.
• Apply key techniques such as tie dye, applique, embroidery, batik, and surface decoration to enhance their textile outcomes.
• Develop prototypes using drawing techniques like isometric and single-point perspective, and refine their ideas through iterative design.

Textile Innovation & Sustainability

Our textiles strand encourages students to explore both natural and synthetic fibres, understand the impact of fast fashion, and experiment with decorative techniques. Projects like Ugly Dolls and cultural cushions promote:

• Environmental awareness and ethical design choices.
• Technical textile knowledge including zips, pockets, templates, and finishing techniques.
• Quality assurance through peer feedback, evaluation, and redesign.

Product Design & Engineering Principles

In projects such as clocks and treat machines, students gain experience in:

• Workshop safety and tool handling.
• Material properties and manufacturing processes.
• Evaluating products for function, aesthetics, and sustainability.

Visual Communication & Design Thinking

Students develop their visual literacy and design communication through:

• Fashion illustration and technical drawing.
• Designing for a client and understanding user needs.
• Annotating designs and creating specifications that guide their making process.

Cultural Awareness & Ethical Design

Projects like cultural cushions and jewellery introduce students to:

• The work of others, including global patterns and print traditions.
• Environmental issues related to materials and production.
• Recycled materials and polymers such as HDPE, promoting responsible design.

Assessment & Reflection

Throughout KS3, students engage in:

• Peer and self-evaluation to improve outcomes.
• Multiple-choice assessments to consolidate technical knowledge.
• Final evaluations to reflect on their design journey and celebrate their achievements.
• Specification writing.
• Responding to extended examination questions
• Focused practical tasks

At Burton Borough School, our KS3 Design & Technology curriculum is delivered through a structured and engaging rotation of practical projects that build progressively across Years 7, 8, and 9. Each unit is carefully designed to develop students’ creativity, technical knowledge, and problem-solving skills while embedding core principles of health and safety, sustainability, and cultural awareness.

Year 7: Foundations in Textiles and Workshop Safety

Students begin with the Ugly Dolls design-and-make project, introducing them to basic textile techniques such as:

• Hand sewing, applique, and embroidery
• Use of templates and components
• Understanding natural vs synthetic fibres
• Fast fashion and environmental impact

They also engage in peer design activities and learn to evaluate and improve their final products through feedback and quality checks.

In the Clocks project, students transition into the workshop environment, where they:

• Learn safe use of tools including coping saws, tenon saws, files, and disc sanders
• Operate machinery such as the pillar drill
• Apply finishing techniques and assemble clock mechanisms
• Begin to understand specifications and design constraints

Year 8: Expanding Skills and Cultural Contexts

The Treat Machines project reinforces workshop safety and introduces mechanical thinking and practical construction. Students refine their tool handling and explore creative design solutions.

In the Cultural Cushions unit, students explore:

• The work of others through global patterns and prints
• Surface decoration techniques including batik and applique
• Functional textile features such as zips, pockets, and edge finishes
• Environmental issues and ethical design choices
• Evaluation and quality assurance processes

Year 9: Advanced Design Thinking and Technical Application

Students tackle more complex design challenges in the Drawing Techniques & Prototype unit, where they:

• Develop initial ideas for products like rucksacks
• Use isometric and single-point perspective drawings
• Create fashion illustrations and technical drawings
• Build and test prototypes against specifications
• Evaluate outcomes and reflect on client needs

Jewellery Design & Make project introduces students to:

• Contextual challenges and product research
• Veneered wood preparation and resin casting
• Use of recycled materials and HDPE polymers
• CAD techniques using 2D Design software
• Laser cutting and vacuum forming processes
• Final product evaluation and multiple-choice assessments

Assessment & Feedback

Unit assessment includes:

• Formative assessment through peer and self-evaluation
• Summative assessment via practical outcomes and written evaluations
• Multiple-choice quizzes to consolidate technical knowledge

End-of-topic assessments to track progress and inform future learning

Our KS3 Design & Technology curriculum equips students with the creative confidence, technical fluency, and critical thinking skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world. The impact of our curriculum is evident in the way students approach design challenges with curiosity, resilience, and a growing sense of independence.

Practical Mastery & Technical Confidence

By the end of KS3, students demonstrate:

• Proficiency in using a wide range of tools and machinery safely and effectively, including coping saws, pillar drills, sewing machines, and CAD software.
• Confidence in applying textile techniques such as applique, embroidery, batik, and tie dye to create high-quality outcomes.
• A strong understanding of materials, processes, and finishing techniques, enabling them to produce functional and aesthetically pleasing products.

Creativity & Design Thinking

Students develop the ability to:

• Generate original ideas through sketching, modelling, and fashion illustration.
• Refine their designs through peer feedback, iterative development, and evaluation.
• Respond to contextual challenges with empathy and innovation, designing for real users and purposes.

Ethical Awareness & Sustainability

Our curriculum fosters responsible designers who:

• Understand the environmental impact of materials and manufacturing, including fast fashion and polymer use.
• Make informed choices about natural and synthetic fibres, recycled materials, and sustainable production methods.
• Appreciate cultural influences in design, drawing inspiration from global patterns, prints, and traditions.

Progression & Readiness for the Future

Students leave KS3 with:

• A robust foundation for GCSE Design & Technology or other creative and technical pathways.
• A portfolio of practical work that showcases their skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
• The ability to evaluate their own work and others with clarity and constructive insight.

Assessment & Reflection

Impact is measured through:

• Practical outcomes that meet design specifications and demonstrate craftsmanship.
• Written evaluations and multiple-choice assessments that consolidate technical knowledge.
• Ongoing peer and self-assessment that encourages reflection and continuous improvement

Our KS3 Design & Technology curriculum empowers Burton Borough students to become thoughtful, skilled, and imaginative designers—ready to shape the future with purpose and passion.

In KS3 students will receive one piece of homework per term. This piece of homework will be designed for the individual class based on gaps in knowledge following assessments.

At KS3 we offer an after-school club that allows students to explore their own creativity with freedom to create their own ideas with support from staff.

The KS3 Design & Technology curriculum at Burton Borough School lays the foundation for a wide range of exciting and future-focused careers. By developing skills in creativity, problem-solving, technical drawing, textiles, product design, and sustainability, students are well-prepared to pursue pathways in both academic and vocational sectors.

Textiles & Fashion Careers

• Fashion Designer – creating clothing and accessories for brands or bespoke clients
• Textile Technologist – developing innovative fabrics and sustainable materials
• Costume Designer – designing for theatre, film, and television
• Apparel Product Developer – managing the lifecycle of clothing products from concept to production
• Embroidery or Surface Decoration Specialist – working in bespoke design studios or luxury fashion

Product Design & Engineering Careers

• Product Designer – designing everyday items, furniture, or consumer electronics
• Mechanical Engineer – applying design principles to machines and systems
• Industrial Designer – combining aesthetics and function in mass-produced goods
• CAD Technician – using software to model and prototype products
• Design Engineer – solving technical problems through creative design

Creative & Visual Communication Careers

• Graphic Designer – creating visual content for print, digital, and branding
• Illustrator – working in publishing, advertising, or fashion
• Set Designer – designing environments for film, theatre, or exhibitions
• Fashion Illustrator – visualising garments and collections for designers and magazines

Sustainability & Ethical Design Careers

• Sustainable Product Developer – designing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional products
• Environmental Consultant (Design Focus) – advising on materials and processes in design industries
• Circular Economy Specialist – helping companies reduce waste and reuse materials

Innovation & Technology Careers

• Design & Technology Teacher – inspiring the next generation of makers and thinkers
• Entrepreneur – launching your own product or fashion line
• Resin Artist or Maker – creating jewellery, homeware, or art using recycled materials
• Laser Cutting Technician – working in digital fabrication labs or manufacturing