Technology within Abbey Hill School Technology College

Preparation for adult life

Almost all of the students in Abbey Hill have access double lesson of Design Technology and Food Technology (taught as Home and Family Studies) lasting 80 minutes per week. The lessons are taught in the purpose built rooms equipped to a high standard with networked computers and CAD/CAM capability through a vinyl cutter, which has a number of other cross curricular uses. The networking of the computer allows students to design work in the computer room or on any other networked computer and gain access to their design in the workshop where the cutting will be performed. Control technology is also addressed through computer controlled Fischer Technic models, which the students learn to program. In the near future both rooms will be equipped with interactive whiteboards and projectors which will allow students to view information stored on computer on a large screen and much, much more.

During their five years in Abbey Hill the students are taken through a range of challenging activities and experiences, which culminate in external accreditation. In the build up to this they make projects, which include hats, buggies, pencil cases and toys with moving parts and in year 9 they start working on AQA units. In years 10 and 11 students may opt for their chosen practical ssubject at which time they access further AQA units and Certificate of achievement awards.

Our CDT teacher Richard Murray, has produced some excellent lesson plans which have been added to the SEN resources on the Northern Grid for Learning's website http://www.northerngrid.org/ngflwebsite/sen/dbsenresourcescdtlessons.htm
and also they are available from the BECTA Inclusion website http://inclusion.ngfl.gov.uk