Nature of the Subject

Students will develop the ability to be innovative and creative and recognise constraints to produce high-quality products with an awareness of the significance of design and technology to society. 

They will learn the ability to apply essential knowledge, understanding and skills of design production processes to a range of technological activities and develop an understanding of industrial practices. 

Students will expand their ability to use information and communications technology (ICT), as appropriate, to enhance their design and technological capability and develop their critical evaluation skills in technical, aesthetic, economic, environmental, social and cultural contexts with the ability to make informed choices as a discerning consumer. 

Syllabus & Content

In Year 12 students will cover the subject content leading to completing a product analysis and improvement project (coursework).

In Year 13 students will further enhance their subject knowledge and complete a design, realisation and planning for manufacturing in quantity project (coursework). 

Assessment

In Year 12, students will sit one examination; Paper 1, which is 2 hours 15 minutes in duration and equates to 50% of the total mark of the AS course with the other 50% being Component 2, which is coursework. 

In Year 13, students will sit one examination; Paper 3 which is 2 hours and 30 minutes in duration. This and the previously completed paper from Year 12 determines 50% of the final overall grade awarded at the end of the two year course with the remaining 50% comprising Components 2 and 4, which is completed coursework.  

Teacher Introduction

A-Level Design Technology is widely recognised as providing students with the transferable skills and critical thinking skills that are so important in many other areas of employment. 

These include a practical skill set that they can apply in their future career, working in teams and alone, presentation and negotiating skills and the experience and competence in complex problem solving. 

Design Technology allows students to understand what people want, develop empathy and a connection to others and to solve real-world problems by designing and making real things.