Design & Technology

The Design & Technology department is staffed by four full-time teachers and one full-time technician. Design & Technology is taught to all pupils in S1and S2. From S3 onwards the subject is broken down into Craft & Design, Graphic Communication, Practical Craft Skills and Product Design. There are two large workshops which are used for modelling and manufacturing in a variety of materials and two classrooms where design and presentation work takes place. The largest classroom has 20 PCs and a smartboard for interactive teaching.

Design & Technology: Staffing

Mrs Emma Watson-Massey (Head of Department)

Mrs Watson-Massey studied Industrial Design in Edinburgh before completing her Post Graduate studies at Loughborough University.  She joined Heriot's in 2004 with a specialism in Product Design.

Miss Amy Hoban

Miss Hoban joined Heriot's in 2009 after graduating from Moray House with a PGDE in 2008.  Her main degree is Interior Architecture and she worked in industry for 5 years before becoming a teacher.  She brings expertise in graphics to the department.

Mr Ian Purves

Mr Purves graduated from Moray House in 2004 with a BEd in Design & Technology.  He joined Heriot's in 2007 after teaching in a variety of schools. He has recently joined the guidance team.

Mr Dougie Urquhart

Mr Urquhart joined Heriot's some time ago. Within the subject his main area of strength and interest is Graphic Communication as well as the development of new courses. He is an experienced jazz musician and a philosopher and runs well subscribed S6 Interest Courses in Jazz and Philosophy.

Mr Tommy Davis

Mr Davis joined the D&T department as full-time technician 8 years ago. He prepares all teaching materials as well as maintaining tools, equipment and workshop areas. He is always keen to be involved and help the pupils. He is a talented and valuable member of the department.

Design & Technology: Curriculum

S1 and S2

Pupils are introduced to Design & Technology initially as a process of problem solving. The emphasis is on developing skills to enable an effective approach to solving a variety of problems. It is important at this stage in the course to encourage an environment where pupils feel supported and directed in their tasks. As pupils progress through the modules they learn to communicate and to share their ideas with others. There is a good deal of collaborative work as well as individual tasks.

S3 and S4

Pupils may choose to pursue Standard Grade Craft & Design, Graphic Communication or Intermediate 2 Product Design. Some pupils opt for two. Craft & Design involves folio and practical work with approximately half of the time spent in the workshop on practical activities. Graphic Communication involves formal drawing, an introduction to CAD and desktop publishing, and manual illustration and presentation techniques. Product Design involves the production of several design folios and there is a strong emphasis on modelling of concepts. In all subjects pupils are encouraged to develop their creative abilities and to work independently.

S5

Following Standard Grades and Int 2, pupils may then choose to go on and study Product Design or Graphic Communication at Higher. Practical Craft Skills is offered in S5 at Intermediate 2 level. Practical Craft Skills is purely workshop based; there is no written exam and the final grade is based on practical work.

S6

Advanced Higher Graphic Communication and Product Design are offered in S6. The courses become very specialized and demanding at this level; typically the department would present between 5-10 candidates for both subjects.