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Resistant Materials

Course Description

Resistant Materials Technology builds on the Design and Technology experiences that our learners have previously gained during key earlier education and provides opportunities for designing and making quality products.

Students who opt for this exciting subject will have the opportunity to:
  • Engage in Design and Technology, make decisions, consider sustainability and combine skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make quality products.
  • Explore ways in which aesthetic, technical, economical, environmental, ethical and social dimensions interact to shape designing and making.
  • Analyse existing products and produce practical solutions to needs, wants and opportunities, recognising their impact on quality of life.
  • Develop decision-making skills through individual and collaborative working.
  • Understand that designing and making reflect and influence cultures and societies, and that products have an impact on lifestyle.
  • Develop skills of creativity and critical analysis through links between the principles of good design, existing solutions and technological knowledge.

Our learners are encouraged to use initiative and motivation to design and make quality products. Students have the opportunity to work in a range of different materials and use modern manufacturing processes including CAD/CAM and ICT.

At a glance

Students will learn about: materials and components; woods; metals; polymers; composites; modern and smart materials; tools and equipment; wasting; scale of production; materials processing and forming; joining methods; adhesives; heat treatment; finishing techniques; manufacturing processes for batch production; health and safety; designing products; ICT; CAD/CAM, sustainability; renewable energy sources; climate change; moral, social and cultural issues.

Previous learners’ Comments

“I really like making useful products and enjoy the challenge of making things work.”

“The projects are interesting and I get to use a whole range of equipment in the workshop.”

“It can be frustrating when things don’t work first time – but it is brilliant when they do.”

“I have learned to manage my time more carefully; otherwise my projects don’t get finished on time.”

“I chose this because I wanted a challenge. At first I was worried about all the technical stuff but you get loads of help.”

Jobs

If you are interested in resistant materials there are a range of job opportunities including:

  • Engineering
  • Construction    
  • Architecture 

Future prospects

You could take this course to prepare for advanced level courses such as A/AS level in Design and Technology. With further training you could go into a job related to the following industries: woodworking, building, engineering, shop fitting, manufacturing, metalwork and fabrication, model maker, carpenter/joiner, product designer, etc…

“Design and Technology is about making things that people want and that work well. Creating these things is hugely exciting; it is an inventive, fun activity”.

(James Dyson, Chairman, Dyson Ltd)