Design Technology

Year 7

Various 5-week Projects - Roller Ball (Wood based), Biscuit Cutter (Metal based), Modelling and Prototyping (Polymers, Vacuum Forming, cards and foam, Smart Materials) and the year 7 Electronic Project.

Year 8

• Container Project: (Wood-based Portfolio Project)
• The Lego Project: (Mechanisms and Structures)
• Electronic Project: (Systems)

Year 9

• Metals Project: (Design a pewter cast Jewellery project for a charity of your choice)
• SolidWorks:  (CAD and CAM Portfolio Project)
• Electronic Project: (Programmable components)

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology

including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. Design and Technology allow students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth to prepare them for the world of work and university.

Design and technology is a practical and valuable subject. It enables students to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of themselves, their community and their nation. It teaches how to take risks and so become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable. At its core, is creativity and imagination, Students learn to design and make products that solve genuine, relevant problems within different contexts whilst considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. To do this effectively, they acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on additional disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering and computing.

Assessment Structure:

Written Exam:

• 2 hours 100 marks, 50% of GCSE
• Questions Section A – Core technical principles (20 marks)
• Section B – Specialist technical principles (30 marks)
• Section C – Designing and making principles (50 marks)

Coursework:

• 30–35 hours approx., 100 marks, 50% of GCSE
• Non-exam assessment (NEA):
• Contextual challenges to be released annually by AQA on 1 June in the year prior to the submission.
• Students will produce a working prototype and a portfolio of evidence (max 20 pages).

This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers. Especially those in the creative industries. They will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning in to practice by producing prototypes of their choice. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

Course Requirements

B in Graphics, Resistant Materials, or Product Design and attend a meeting to show portfolio.

Essential Skills

In order to take A level Product Design not only do you need a passion for Design you also need to have excellent organisational skills and the ability to problem-solve effectively. You will need to be self-motivated and disciplined to meet coursework deadlines whilst still preparing for the examination.

A Level - Product Design (AQA)

The course content enables students to further develop their knowledge and understanding of materials and components, design and market influences and processes and manufacture.

Assessment Structure

Paper 1

What's assessed?

• Technical principles

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 2.5 hours
• 120 marks
• 30% of A-level

Questions

• Mixture of short answer and extended response.

Paper 2

What's assessed?

• Designing and making principles

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 1.5 hours
• 80 marks
• 20% of A-level

Questions

• Mixture of short answer and extended response questions.

Section A: Product Analysis: 30 marks, Up to 6 short answer questions based on visual stimulus of product(s).
Section B: Commercial manufacture: 50 marks, Mixture of short and extended response questions

Non-exam assessment (NEA)

What's assessed

• Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles.

How it's assessed

• Substantial design and make project
• 100 marks
• 50% of A-level

Evidence

• Written or digital design portfolio and photographic evidence of final prototype.