Year 7

Introduction to Design Technology: Projects include history, origins, health & safety in the workshop, workshop skills, computer literacy, drawing skills, timber & polymers

Year 8

The bigger picture of Design Technology: Projects include environmental considerations, electronics, mechanical systems, advance drawing skills & metals

Year 9

The Future of Design Technology:

• Graphics: modelling, branding, creative
• Materials: fabricating with timber design

Qualification: GCSE Design Technology
Exam Board: AQA
Coursework: 50% (delete as necessary)
Exam: 50% (delete as necessary)
Exam Structure: 1 x 2hr exam paper sat in the summer of Year 11
Link to specification: AQA GCSE Design and Technology (8552)

Course Overview:
Our GCSE Design and Technology specification sets out the knowledge, understanding and skills required to undertake the iterative design process of exploring, creating and evaluating. The majority of the specification is delivered through the practical application of this knowledge and understanding.

The subject content has been split into three sections as follows:

Core technical principles: new and emerging technologies

• energy generation and storage
• developments in new materials
• systems approach to designing
• mechanical devices
• materials and their working properties

Specialist technical principles

• selection of materials or components
• forces and stresses
• ecological and social footprint
• sources and origins
• using and working with materials
• stock forms, types and sizes
• scales of production
• specialist techniques and processes
• surface treatments and finishes

Designing and making principles

• investigation, primary and secondary data
• environmental, social and economic challenge
• the work of others
• design strategies
• communication of design ideas
• prototype development
• selection of materials and components
• tolerances
• material management
• specialist tools and equipment
• specialist techniques and processes

Qualification: A-Level Product Design
Exam Board: OCR
Coursework: 50% (delete as necessary)
Exam: 50% (delete as necessary)
Exam Structure: 1 x 1hr 30min, 1 x 1hr 45min exam papers sat in the summer of Year 13
Link to specification: A Level Specification Design and Technology

Course Overview:

Principles of …(01) – 80 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes written paper (26.7% of total A Level)
This paper is set out through four sets of questions that predominantly cover technical principles within each endorsed title. Learners will be required to:

• analyse existing products
• demonstrate applied mathematical skills
• demonstrate their technical knowledge of materials, product functionality, manufacturing processes and techniques
• demonstrate their understanding of wider social, moral and environmental issues that impact on the design and manufacturing industries

Problem solving in …*(02) – 70 marks, 1 hour 45 minutes written paper (23.3% of total A Level)
This component has a series of longer answer questions that require learners to demonstrate their problem solving and critical evaluation skills. Learners will be required to:

• apply their knowledge, understanding and skills of designing and manufacturing prototypes and products
• demonstrate their higher thinking skills to solve problems and evaluate situations and suitability of design solutions

Iterative Design Project* (03, 04) – 100 marks**, approx 65 hours non-exams assessment (50% of total A Level)
The ‘Iterative Design Project’ requires learners to undertake a substantial design, make and evaluate project centred on the iterative processes of explore, create and evaluate.

Learners identify a design opportunity or problem from a context of their own choice, and create a portfolio of evidence in real time through the project to demonstrate their competence.