Technology

In Design and Technology at CRGS, students become visionary problem-solvers, crafting exciting, functional products that respond to real-life challenges. Whether they're meeting the needs of their peers or dreaming up solutions for global issues, their journey is deeply rooted in empathy, curiosity and purpose. By the end of Year 9, these young designers won’t just understand the world—they’ll understand how to change it.

Threaded through every project are the UN Sustainability Goals, guiding students to make choices that support a healthier planet and more equitable society. From the spark of an idea to the final product, students engage with a design process that’s clear, dynamic, and empowering: inform, create, evaluate. It’s more than a subject—it’s a launchpad for the innovators of tomorrow.

Design and Technology seamlessly connects with Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Computing and Art, showing students how these disciplines intersect in the most exciting and meaningful ways. They’re encouraged to take risks, embrace challenges, and become enterprising citizens—ready to shape their own futures.

Additionally, Food Studies is a vibrant part of the department, offering practical life skills and global culinary adventures. Students master the foundations of nutrition, safety, and food preparation, then embark on exciting projects that allow them to design and cook meals inspired by international cuisines. Through theory and practice, they explore how the food we eat impacts both our health and the planet.

This is where critical thinking meets hands-on creativity. This is where sustainability becomes second nature. This is Design and Technology—alive with purpose, passion, and possibility.

GCSE students currently study OCR Product Design: Design & Technology.

Departmental team

Mrs F Robinson (Head of Department)
Mr Baker-Woods
Mrs Fairey
Mr T Groves (Technology Technician)

The Technology Experience

The Design and Technology department organises and coordinates a range of extra curricular activities including:

Scalextric
An active Engineering Society
Backstage Production Crew
Lego League
MakerSpace

Students regularly take part in competitions including:

Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society
Design Ventura
Lego League
Gola Design Challenge
Scalextric4Schools

Some even have success on the national stage, such as Year 13 student Mainak Ghosh, who finished 3rd in the 2024 Seymourpowell Design Challenge!

Mainak Ghosh Magazine 1

Arkwright Scholarships

Currently the school has seven Arkwright Scholars - students in Y11 can apply for scholarships from the Arkwright foundation to support their sixth form studies in Design & Technology. Links with local businesses are sought and maintained for the benefit they bring to the width of experience students receive as they study Design and Technology. Students are mentored through the process by past and present scholars in the school. The scholarships also come with a financial reward to assist their studies and applications to university.

Technology Trips

Regular trips take place throughout the year to develop deeper understanding of current industry technology:

Harrods Aviation at Stansted to meet with engineers working on CRJ 700 Jets and Sikorsky 292 helicopter engines.

CJS Engineering Manufacturing for year 12 A level to gain hands on experience of CAM processes at industry level.

Woods Air Movement for industry and career insights.

Purcell Architects for live industry projects.

OCR Design and Technology A-level; Product Design

An overview

The Product Design specialism combines a wide range of analytical and problem solving skills along with designing and making skills. At CRGS we approach Design & Technology as a subject requiring the full 2 years to fully develop a student’s understanding and practice of the subject enabling students a solid foundation into technical and designing futures. The course provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to study the subject and related subjects such as engineering at a higher level.

Design & Technology

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. The new GCE course, Product Design has been developed closely with Higher Education and industry to ensure that the direction of the qualification supports progression beyond A level. There has also been a focus on ensuring the content reflects authentic practice, giving an insight into the way that creative, engineering and/or manufacturing industries function. You are required to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge, understanding and skills and reflects the importance of Design and Technology as a pivotal STEM subject.

What’s included?

During the two year course you will study a range of materials, you will develop a technical understanding of how products function and how they are made to appropriately support the design and manufacture of your own design solutions. You will learn about wider design principles and the effect of design on users and the world we live in.

You will identify market needs and opportunities for new products, initiate and develop design solutions, and make and test prototypes/products. You will develop your subject knowledge, including how a product can be developed through the stages of prototyping, realisation and commercial manufacture.

You will develop a critical mind through enquiry and problem solving, exploration, creation and evaluation of iterative designs. OCR encourage freedom in approaches towards designing and making so as not to limit the possibilities of project work or the materials and processes being used.

Both courses require you to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge, understanding and skills. This content reflects the importance of Design and Technology as a pivotal STEM subject.

A level: How will you be assessed?

Component 03/04: Iterative design project

Central to this non-examined assessment is the requirement for students to understand and apply processes of iterative designing in their design and technology practice: exploring needs, creating solutions and evaluating how well the needs have been met.

Students identify an engaging and challenging context of their own choice that offers design opportunity or problem to respond to in the development of a design solution. They create a chronological portfolio of evidence in real-time as they design, make and evaluate the project according to the iterative processes of explore, create and evaluate.

Component 01 Principles of Product Design examination paper is worth 26.7%.

Students:

Analyse existing products
Demonstrate applied mathematical skills
Demonstrate their technical knowledge of materials, product functionality, manufacturing processes and techniques
Undertake case studies to demonstrate their understanding of wider social, moral and environmental issues that impact on the design and manufacturing industries.

Component 02: Problem Solving of Product Design examination paper is worth the remaining 23.3%.