The Design and Technology department at Haileybury Almaty allows our pupils to explore their creative talents and gives them the opportunity to try this through different materials.

The Design Centre, Haileybury Almaty.

As the name suggests, the subject strives to contextualise pupils experience with burgeoning technologies on offer in our rapidly changing society and the world as a whole, to understand how to harness technologies in a responsible, Eco-friendly and effective way.

In short, technology underpins our 'modern' existence in our world. By the use of the 'Design Cycle' as a vehicle to critique, experience, analyse and explore ideas; students become familiar with needs, concepts, materials and appropriate methods of solving problems we are faced with in our society.

At Haileybury Almaty, the intention is to undertake IGCSE and AS/A Level Design Technology. It is hoped to be able to offer Design and Textiles in the future.

Design Technology is being taught by class teachers in Primary School and specialist teachers from Year 5.

In years 7, 8 and 9, students undertake teacher supported projects that will develop analytical decision making, dexterous and evaluative skills.

At the end of Year 9 students are given the opportunity to choose Resistant Materials and Graphics as an IGCSE .This course primarily focuses on the designing and making component of technology. This will stimulate a range of communication skills central to design, making and evaluation. It will also stimulate the development of a range of making skills. It will promote the development of curiosity, ingenuity, enquire, initiative, resourcefulness and discrimination. It will also encourage technological awareness, foster attitudes of cooperation and social responsibilities. Finally it should stimulate the exercising of value judgements of an aesthetic, technical, economic and moral nature.

The acquisition and use of appropriate technologies in this subject is paramount. We strive to teach techniques in the manipulation of most resistant materials including wood, plastic, metals and composites and smart materials.

Laser cutters and CNC Routers are the 'cutting edge' of graphic related professions. Architectural practises, Graphic Design Studios, Product Design Workshops, Packaging and Marketing Enterprises and much more, rely on these new technologies. Here at Haileybury Almaty, exposure to just these kinds of technologies is vital for our students learning. Our laser cutter (80 Watt) is a product aimed at use in schools. It is a state-of-the-art rapid prototype machine that will cut or engrave on a great many materials including most plastics, wood, MDF, paper card, cloth etc. Either large components or whole class sets of work can be cut out in one easy operation. This is a computer numerically controlled machine.

By the same token, the Roland VersaCamm, also a computer numerically controlled, is used for vinyl cutting and printing. It is an essential piece of equipment for both Resistant Materials and Graphics . It allows students to design and render their prototypes with great accuracy and to a professional standard. Coraldraw, Photoshop and 2D Design software will be a tool used to develop student designs. It is vital that students are conversant with these important tools at as early a stage as possible.

Hand tools, drilling machines, cutting machines, sanding machines and polishing machines also help in the fabrication of projects. A Thermoplastics Centre also aids in state-of-the-art manipulation of plastics. Vacuum forming, injection moulding, welding and extrusion are all techniques achieved in the Design Centre.

Thomas Pickup

BEd