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"I love the way I am able to let my creativity run wild in DT".
WHAT IS design & Technology GCSE?
WHAT IS design & Technology GCSE?
Course description
Course description
GCSE Design and Technology is a practical subject which requires the application of knowledge and understanding when developing ideas, planning, producing products and evaluating them. The course helps students develop the ability to design and make products with creativity and originality, using a range of materials and techniques.
Students to learn about all forms of Design and Technology. Students will develop their knowledge and skills in Resistant Materials, Graphic Products, Electronics, Textiles and Product Design. Although students will learn about each of these areas, the main practical focus will be Resistant Materials, Graphic Products and Product
Design.
Much of the practical work will focus on wood, metal and plastics as the main materials. Students will use a wide range of machinery, materials, processes, hand tools and equipment throughout the course.
The final product that is designed and made will be completely individual to each student based on the brief given by the exam board.
Course structure
Course structure
Year 10:
Students complete a series of ‘Focused Practical Tasks’ that develop students’ subject skills, knowledge and understanding. The theory which relates to the course is embedded within set tasks and practicals.
Year 10-11: Non-exam assessment (50% GCSE).
Students complete a non-exam assessment, worth 50% of the final GCSE. This is a substantial design and make task which students can select from a choice of set tasks. It is expected that students should spend approximately 30-35 hours on this activity. As part of the assessment students will be demonstrating:
• investigating
• designing
• making
• analysing and evaluating.
The contextual challenges (task) will be released annually by AQA on 1 June, in the year before submission. Students will produce a working prototype and a portfolio of evidence (maximum 20 pages) to demonstrate the assessment criteria above.
Year 11: Unit (50% GCSE).
A 2 hour written unit sat in June of the final year of the course. The paper will look at:
Section A: Core technical principles
Multiple choice and short answer questions which assess broad technical knowledge and understanding.
Section B: Specialist technical principles
Several short answer questions and one extended response
Section C: Designing and making principles
Short and extended response questions which includes a design question.
Qualification: GCSE in Design Technology
Director of Learning: Mr M Mangan
"During the DT GCSE course, I have really enjoyed researching and learning about different materials and their properties. In our final project, I was able to focus on the sustainability of these and other existing products; this was very fun since it is a topic that I am passionate about. When looking at existing products, we were also able to view other famous designers and their work to gather inspiration. Although the projects are based around a given theme, the great thing about DT is that you can interpret this in multiple ways. This allowed me to produce work that I was actually interested in. One challenge that arose during the DT course was the construction of the products. However, after a lot of practice, I began to find techniques that suited me which helped to create effective models. This subject offers endless amounts of creativity which makes it a very enjoyable one to take".
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