CDT Subjects

Progression Pathways

The diagram below shows the progression pathways in this subject area.

Course Expectations

Course materials are made available via Google Drive and Google Classroom throughout the course.  Students will be expected to engage with regular home study and complete all homework tasks to achieve success in CDT.  Due to assessed practical work, good attendance is also essential.

Due to numeracy/literacy requirements in CDT, students should be working at or recommended for a similar level in English/Maths as their CDT course.  For example, for Nat 5 Practical Woodwork, you should also be working towards or be recommended for National 5 English and Maths.

About the Course

This is course is for pupils who want to gain a broad introduction into practical craft skills.  The course is mainly workshop based and will allow students to use a range of tools, equipment and materials.

The course has the following three units:

1.   Working with Tools

2.   Working with Materials

3.   Making an Item

Course Assessment

This course is assessed internally only via unit assessments which include practical assessments.  There is no final SQA exam.

About the Course

This course is for pupils who have an interest in design and technology.  Students will develop their skills in designing and communicating design proposals while refining and resolving design ideas.  The course integrates design and making and provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study towards a National 5 qualification.

The course has the following three units:

1.   Design and Manufacture: Design

2.   Design and Manufacture: Materials and Manufacturing

3.   Added Value Unit: Design and Manufacture Assignment

Design and Manufacture: Design

Students will learn about the product design process from brief to design proposal.  Students will develop skills in initiating, developing, articulating and communicating simple design proposals.  They will develop an appreciation of the design/make/test process and the importance of evaluating and resolving work on an ongoing basis.

Design and Manufacture: Materials and Manufacturing

Students will learn about the product design process from design proposals to prototype and product.  Students will 'close the design loop' by manufacturing their design ideas and allows them to develop practical skills that are invaluable in the design/make/test process.

Added Value Unit: Design and Manufacture Assignment

Students will draw on their range of design knowledge and skills, knowledge or materials and manufacturing and apply their practical skills, in order to produce an effective overall response to a brief.  The brief will relate to a straightforward product design scenario and the response will include a folio, a model, or a prototype, or a completed product.

Course Assessment

This course is assessed internally only via unit assessments which include practical assessments.  There is no final SQA exam.

About the Course

This course is for pupils who have an interest in both digital and paper-based graphic communication.  Students will develop their awareness of how graphics are used, and to learn about the technology used to create them.  Students will create 2D, 3D and pictorial graphics with visual impact digitally and on paper.  The course provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study towards a National 5 qualification.

The course has the following three units:

1.   2D Graphic Communication

2.   3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication

3.   Added Value Unit: Graphic Communication Assignment

2D Graphic Communication

Students will develop their creativity and skills within a 2D graphic communication context.  Students will initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques and develop 2D graphic spatial awareness.

3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication

Students will develop their creativity and skills within a 3D and pictorial graphic communication context.  Students will initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques and develop 3D graphic spatial awareness.

Added Value Unit: Graphic Communication Assignment

This unit will add challenge and application.  Students will apply their knowledge and skills and draw on their range of graphic communication experiences to produce an effective overall response.

Course Assessment

This course is assessed internally only via unit assessments which include practical assessments.  There is no final SQA exam.

About the Course

This is course is for pupils who have an interest in developing their metalworking skills in a workshop environment.  Students will learn to use a range of tools, equipment, materials, processes and techniques.  Students will learn to read and interpret diagrams and work safely in a workshop setting.  The course provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study towards a National 5 qualification or to study metalwork further after leaving school.

The course has the following four units:

1.   Practical Metalworking: Bench Skills

2.   Practical Metalworking: Machine Processes

3.   Practical Metalworking: Fabrication and Thermal Joining

4.   Making a Finished Product from Metal

Practical Metalworking: Bench Skills

Students will develop a range of metalworking hand tool skills including simple bench-fitting work, basic sheet-metal work and simple measuring and marking out.  Students will develop skills in reading and interpreting simple drawings and diagrams.

Practical Metalworking: Machine Processes

Students will develop their measuring and marking out skills and develop skills in using common metalwork machines, equipment and related processes.

Practical Metalworking: Fabrication and Thermal Joining

Students will develop skills in fabrication, forming and joining of simple metalwork components.  They will develop skills in thermal joining techniques and build skills in measuring and marking out.

Making a Finished Product from Metal

Students will draw on their range of practical metalworking skills to produce a overall response to a task.

Course Assessment

This course is assessed internally only via unit assessments which include practical assessments.  There is no final SQA exam.

About the Course

This is course is for pupils who have an interest in developing their woodworking skills in a workshop environment.  Students will learn to use a range of tools, equipment, materials, processes and techniques.  Students will learn to read and interpret diagrams and work safely in a workshop setting.  The course provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study towards a National 5 qualification or to study woodwork further after leaving school.

The course has the following four units:

1.   Practical Woodworking: Flat-frame Construction

2.   Practical Woodworking: Carcase Construction

3.   Practical Woodworking: Machining and Finishing

4.   Making a Finished Product from Wood

Practical Woodworking: Flat-frame Construction

Students will develop skills in the use of woodworking tools and in the preparation and production of basic flat-frame woodworking joints and assemblies.  Students will learn to read and follow simple woodworking drawings and diagrams.

Practical Woodworking: Carcase Construction

Students will develop skills in the preparation and production of basic woodworking joints and assemblies suitable for use in carcase construction.  This may include working with manufactured board or with frames and panels.

Practical Woodworking: Machining and Finishing

Students will develop skills in using common machine and power tools as well as developing skills in a variety of simple woodworking surface preparations and finishing techniques.

Making a Finished Product from Wood

Students will draw on and extend their practical woodworking skills to produce an effective overall response.

Course Assessment

This course is assessed internally only via unit assessments which include practical assessments.  There is no final SQA exam.

About the Course

This course is for pupils who wants to specialise their study of design and manufacture beyond the broad general education and who are attracted by practical activities.  This course builds a foundation towards studying towards a Higher qualification in future years while providing opportunities to enhance skills designing and communicating design proposals.  The course stresses the integration of designing and making while highlighting the close relationship between designing, making, testing and refining design ideas.

The course has the following two units:

1.   Design

2.   Manufacture

Design

Students learn about the design process from brief to design proposal.  This will help to develop their skills in initiating, developing, articulating and communicating design proposals.  Students will develop an understanding of the design/make/test process and the importance of evaluating and resolving design proposals on an ongoing basis.

Manufacture

Students learn about the manufacture of prototypes and products which helps them to develop practical skills in the design/make/test process.  Students will gain an appreciation of the properties and uses of materials, as well as a range of manufacturing processes and techniques, allowing them to evaluate and refine design and manufacturing solutions.  They will also learn about commercial manufacturing.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  These are not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for them as separate unit passes.  A unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with each unit.

External Course Assessment

Two practical assignments:

1.   Design assignment worth 55 marks, which is 31% of the overall mark

2.   Practical assignment worth 45 marks which is 25% of the overall mark

One examination paper of 1 hour 45 minutes worth 80 marks, which is 44% of the overall mark.

About the Course

This is a course for pupils who want to develop their skills in both digital and paper-based graphic communication.  Students will develop their awareness of how graphics are used, and to learn about the technology used to create them.  Students will create 2D, 3D and pictorial graphics with visual impact digitally and on paper.  The course provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study towards a Higher qualification.

The course has the following two units:

1.   2D Graphic Communication

2.   3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication

2D Graphic Communication

Students will develop creativity and skills within a 2D graphic communication context.  They will initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques and will develop 2D graphic spatial awareness.

3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication

Students will develop creativity and skills within a 3D and pictorial graphic communication context.  They will initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques and will develop 3D graphic spatial awareness.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  These are not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for them as separate unit passes.  A unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with each unit.

External Course Assessment

Practical assignment, worth 40 marks, which is 33% of the overall mark.

One examination paper of 2 hours, worth 80 marks, which is 67% of the overall mark.

About the Course

This is course is for pupils who have an interest in developing their theoretical and practical metalworking skills in a workshop environment.  Students will learn to use a range of tools, equipment, materials, processes and techniques.  Students will learn to read and interpret diagrams and work safely in a workshop setting.  The course provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study metalwork further after leaving school.

The course has the following three units:

1.   Bench Skills

2.   Machine Processes

3.   Fabrication and Thermal Joining

Bench Skills

Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the use of metalworking hand tools, bench-fitting work, routine sheet-metal work and measuring and marking out.  Students will develop their ability to read and use drawings and diagrams.

Machine Processes

Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the use of metalworking machines, equipment, related processes, materials and measuring and marking out.

Fabrication and Thermal Joining

Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding in fabrication, forming and joining of metalwork components.  They will develop skills in thermal joining techniques and measuring and marking out.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  These are not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for them as separate unit passes.  A unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with each unit.

External Course Assessment

Practical activity, worth 70 marks, which is scaled to 70% of the overall mark.

One examination paper of 1 hour, worth 60 marks, which is scaled to 30% of the overall mark.

About the Course

This is course is for pupils who have an interest in developing their theoretical and practical woodworking skills in a workshop environment.  Students will learn to use a range of tools, equipment, materials, processes and techniques.  Students will learn to read and interpret diagrams and work safely in a workshop setting.  The course provides a foundation for pupils who would like to study woodwork further after leaving school.

The course has the following three units:

1.   Flat-frame construction

2.   Carcase Construction

3.   Machining and Finishing

Flat-frame construction

Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the use of woodworing tools and in making woodworking joints and assemblies commonly used in flat-frame joinery.  They will also develop their skills in reading and using drawings and diagrams.

Carcase construction

Students will develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the use of woodworking tools and in making woodworking joints and assemblies commonly used in carcase construction.  This may include working with manufactured board or with frames and panels.

Machining and finishing

Students will debelop their skills, knowledge and understanding in using machine and power tools.  They will also develop skills in a variety of woodworking surface preparations and finishing techniques.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  These are not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for them as separate unit passes.  A unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with each unit.

External Course Assessment

Practical activity, worth 70 marks, which is scaled to 70% of the overall mark.

One examination paper of 1 hour, worth 60 marks, which is scaled to 30% of the overall mark.

Subject: Higher Design & Manufacture

Recommended Previous Experience: Students should have ideally already achieved a level A or level B pass at National 5 level in Design and Manufacture.  Ideally a pass at National 5 Maths and English and preferably working towards Higher level would also be beneficial.

About the Course

This course is suitable for students interested in the creative and practical activities required to design and manufacture commercial products.  Students can be innovative and resourceful when exploring and resolving problems.  This course provides a foundation for those considering further study in design, manufacturing and related disciplines.

The course has the following two units:

1.   Design

2.   Manufacture

Design

Students learn about the design process from brief to design proposal.  This will help to develop their skills in initiating, developing, articulating and communicating design proposals.  Students explore and refine design proposals using the design/make/test process and apply their knowledge of materials, processes and design factors to reach a viable solution.  This helps develop an understanding of the iterative nature of design.

Manufacture

Students learn about the manufacture of commercial products.  The develop their knowledge of materials, manufacturing and production processes and strengthen their understanding of how these influence the design of products.  This provides students with the knowledge and understanding required to develop a viable design proposal for a commercial product and to plan its production.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  This is not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for this as a separate unit pass.  The unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with the unit.

External Course Assessment

Practical assignment worth 90 marks, which is 53% of the overall mark.

One examination paper of 2 hours 45 minutes, worth 80 marks, which is 47% of the overall mark.

Subject: Higher Graphic Communication

Recommended Previous Experience: Students should have ideally already achieved a level A or level B pass at National 5 level in Graphic Communication.  Ideally a pass at National 5 Maths and English and preferably working towards Higher level would also be beneficial.

About the Course

This is a course for pupils who want to develop their skills in both digital and paper-based graphic communication.  Students will develop their awareness of how graphics are used, and to learn about the technology used to create them.  Students will create 2D, 3D and pictorial graphics with visual impact digitally and on paper.

The course has the following two units:

1.   2D Graphic Communication

2.   3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication

2D Graphic Communication

Students will develop creativity and skills within a 2D graphic communication context.  They will initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques and will develop 2D graphic spatial awareness.

3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication

Students will develop creativity and skills within a 3D and pictorial graphic communication context.  They will initiate, develop and communicate ideas using graphic techniques and will develop 3D graphic spatial awareness.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  These are not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for them as separate unit passes.  A unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with each unit.

External Course Assessment

Practical assignment covering preliminary, production and promotional graphics.  This is worth 50 marks, which is worth 36% of the overall mark.

One examination paper of 2 hours 30 minutes, worth 90 marks, which is 64% of the overall mark.

Subject: Advanced Higher Graphic Communication

Recommended Previous Experience: Students should have already achieved a level A or level B pass at Higher level in Graphic Communication and ideally a pass at Higher Maths and English.

About the Course

This course is suitable for students considering further study or a career in graphic design, computer-aided design and draughting or graphic communication related disciplines.  Students will be given the opportunity to extend their knowledge and understanding of key graphic communication concepts and processes while developing an awareness of the impact of graphic communication on society and the environment.

The course has the following two units:

1.   Technical Graphics

2.   Commercial and Visual Media Graphics

Technical Graphics

Students will develop creativity and evaluation skills in technical graphics through manual and electronic-based communication activities.  Students will explore the purpose, application and audience requirements of technical graphics and apply graphic communication skills, knowledge and understanding to plan, produce and evaluate technical graphic techniques and technologies.

Commercial and Visual Media Graphics

Students will develop skills and techniques to create effective commercial and visual media graphic communications and explore their application in publishing and promotion.

Course Assessment

Internal Course Assessment

There is a unit assessment for each unit which can be used for a unit award.  These are not required to sit the final exam, however, students can be given a credit for them as separate unit passes.  A unit test and one practical task must be passed in order to be credited with each unit.

External Course Assessment

Practical project assessing practical application of knowledge and skills from across the course.  This is worth 80 marks, which is 50% of the overall mark.  This is an open brief and students can choose the topic for their project in discussion with their teacher.

One examination paper of 2 hours 30 minutes worth 90 marks, which is 50% of the overall mark.