GCSE Design Technology
Introduction
Design and Technology is a subject that has problem solving and creativity at its core. Students learn to design and make products that solve genuine and relevant problems in a variety of contexts. It harbours skills that are crucial today in the workplace and ultimately challenges students to use their knowledge, skills, and initiative to find effective solutions.
What Will I Study?
Topics and themes have been grouped together and the subject content has been split into three sections as follows:
- Core technical principles
- Specialist technical principles (Focus will be on timbers and man-made boards)
- Designing and making principles
To make effective design choices students will learn a breadth of core technical knowledge and understanding that consists of:
- New and emerging technologies
- Energy generation and storage
- Developments in new materials
- Systems approach to designing
- Mechanical devices
- Materials and their working properties
How will I be Assessed?
The assessment of the whole course is based on the following three principles:
- Core technical principles
- Specialist technical principles
- Designing and making principles
50% of the course is assessed by an exam that will be a mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and extended response questions. This will be sat at the end of Year 11. The other 50% of the course is a non-examined assessment and is a substantial design and make task, which requires the students to produce a prototype and an A3 portfolio of evidence.
This task starts at the end of Year 10 and example briefs include:
- Design for disability
- Design for healthy lifestyles
- Design for the developing world
Within a chosen brief, students can focus their projects to suit areas of strength, i.e. Graphics, Resistant materials, Textiles or Systems and control.
Career Opportunities
With creativity and problem solving at its core, a qualification in Design and Technology will support many different career pathways including those in the creative and media sectors and the construction and engineering sectors. Students may continue to study a creative subject further, leading them into careers such as Graphic Designer, Product Designer, Architect, Landscape Designer and job roles in the engineering sector.
This year Woodcote High School will be offering A-Level Product Design, which is a two-year course that is also assessed through both coursework and written exam. The GCSE Design and Technology course would provide students with a sound base of knowledge and skills to progress onto the A-Level.
Exam Board: AQA
Course Code: 60309842
Contact information
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