To help keep all pupils safe, please ensure the school has up-to-date information about any allergies your child may have. Accurate allergy information enables us to put appropriate support plans in place, train staff effectively, and respond quickly in an emergency. We all have a part to play in creating a safe environment, including following our nut-aware policy and being mindful of the food brought into school. If your child has an allergy, please contact the school or update their details via Arbor. Be Allergy Aware and Save A Life - see more here.
At Paignton Academy, Design and Technology provides students with the creativity, technical knowledge, practical capability and problem-solving skills required for success in further education and future employment. The Department of Education recognises that Design and Technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of the nation. They state the inspiring, rigorous and practical subject provides a safe and constructive environment where students learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the AQA GCSE Design and Technology curriculum, students develop the confidence to design, innovate and respond to real-world challenges whilst gaining the knowledge and attributes valued by employers in a vast range of creative and practical industries.
Design and Technology has particular importance within Torbay and the wider Devon economy, where there are strong employment opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, construction, marine industries, digital technologies and skilled trades. Students who choose to study Design and Technology at Paignton Academy will develop a wide range of transferable skills that are highly valued by local employers. Throughout the KS4 curriculum, creative thinking, innovation and problem-solving skills are developed in a variety of projects that teach practical manufacturing skills in a wide range of material areas. The specialised teaching team introduce the use of hand tools in wood, metal and plastic; then progress to more complex processes including casting and soldering. Students will analyse existing products, identify user needs, and develop innovative design solutions through research, modelling, testing and evaluation over the 2 years of study, alongside teamwork and communication in both a design setting and workshop environment. The department boasts a range of modern technologies, including laser cutters and 3D printers, that students apply their CAD and digital technical drawings to create highly accurate 3D prototypes.
These skills prepare students for further study, apprenticeships and employment within the engineering, manufacturing, construction, marine and technology sectors that are significant contributors to the economy of Torbay, Devon and the wider South West.