GCSE Design Technology

OVERVIEW OF COURSE

The GCSE in Design and Technology enables students to understand and apply iterative design processes through which they explore, create and evaluate a range of outcomes. The qualification enables students to use creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes (together with evidence of modelling to develop and prove product concept and function) that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. It gives students opportunities to apply knowledge from other disciplines, including mathematics, science, art and design, computing and the humanities.

Students will acquire subject knowledge in design and technology that builds on Key Stage 3, incorporating knowledge and understanding of different materials and manufacturing processes in order to design and make, with confidence, prototypes in response to issues, needs, problems and opportunities. Students learn how to take design risks, helping them to become resourceful, innovative and enterprising citizens. They should develop an awareness of practices from the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. Through the critique of the outcomes of design and technology activity, both historic and present day, students should develop an understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world and understand that high-quality design and technology is important to the creativity, culture, sustainability, wealth and wellbeing of the nation and the global community.

The study of design and technology seeks to prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. It helps students to be aware of, and learn from, wider influences on design and technology, including historical, social/cultural, environmental and economic factors. The aims and objectives of this qualification are to enable students to:

● demonstrate their understanding that all design and technological activity takes place in contexts that influence the outcomes of design practice

● develop realistic design proposals as a result of the exploration of design opportunities and users’ needs, wants and values

● use imagination, experimentation and combine ideas when designing

● develop the skills to critique and refine their own ideas while designing and making

● communicate their design ideas and decisions using different media and techniques, as appropriate for different audiences at key points in their designing

● develop decision-making skills, including the planning and organisation of time and resources when managing their own project work

● develop a broad knowledge of materials, components and technologies and practical skills to develop high-quality, imaginative and functional prototypes

● be ambitious and open to explore and take design risks in order to stretch the development of design proposals, avoiding clichéd or stereotypical responses

● consider the costs, commercial viability and marketing of products

● demonstrate safe working practices in design and technology

● use key design and technology terminology, including those related to: designing, innovation and communication; materials and technologies; making, manufacture and production; critiquing, values and ethics.

ASSESSMENT

Component 1 – Exam

• Written exam, externally assessed

• 1 hour and 45 minutes

• 50% of qualification

• 100 marks

The paper includes calculations, short-open and open-response questions as well as extended-writing questions focused on:

● analysis and evaluation of design decisions and outcomes, against a technical principle, for prototypes made by others

● analysis and evaluation of wider issues in design technology, including social, moral, ethical and environmental impacts. The paper is split into section A “core” and section B “material” categories.

Content overview:

1 – Core content and any one from the following material categories:

2 – Metals

3 – Papers and boards

4 – Polymers

5 – Systems

6 – Textiles

7 – Timbers

Component 2- NEA (coursework)

• Non‐examined assessment (NEA), internally assessed and externally moderated

• 50% of qualification

• 100 marks

There are four parts to the assessment:

1 – Investigate This includes investigation of needs and research, and a product specification

2 – Design This includes producing different design ideas, review of initial ideas, development of design ideas into a chosen design, communication of design ideas and review of the chosen design

3 – Make This includes manufacture, and quality and accuracy

4 – Evaluate This includes testing and evaluation.

Assessment overview

● Students will undertake a project based on a contextual challenge released by us a year before certification.

● This will be released on 1st June and will be available on our website.

● The project will test students’ skills in investigating, designing, making and evaluating a prototype of a product.

● Task will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

● The marks are awarded for each part as follows.

1 – Investigate (16 marks)

2 – Design (42 marks)

3 – Make (36 marks)

4 – Evaluate (6 marks)

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

After school club within workshop environment

Trip related to NEA in Year 10/11