DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Specification : AQA Design Technology (resistant materials) (8552)

Students choosing GCSE Design & Technology will study the AQA (8552) specification. This is divided into two modules: Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), worth 50% of an overall grade, and a written exam, worth 50% of an overall grade.

Design & Technology aims to develop confident learners who are autonomous, knowledgeable, and can utilise design thinking approaches to provide empathy with people and our ever-changing world and derive creative solutions to real-life problems.

Why choose DT GCSE?

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare you to confidently and successfully succeed in an increasingly technological realm. You will learn how design and production techniques have influenced and shaped our world. Moreover, you will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology, including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. You will work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. The GCSE is based on core technical, designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment, and their application into practical work evidenced in the NEA component. The NEA context title is released in the Summer just before Year 11 starts, which means that all practical coursework to be assessed will be completed in Year 11. A focused, determined and self-disciplined approach is needed. Students will be expected to write a brief and respond to real-life situations This course will suit independent, self-disciplined, creative students who enjoy problem-solving and are interested in the world of design. Students are encouraged to experiment with materials and techniques, take risks and be adventurous within the confines of the given context.

Example contexts may include:

• Addressing the needs of the particular user group

• Exploring specific places and events

• Enhancing quality of everyday life

Year 11 GCSE structure:

Ø  Exam – written paper (2 hours), 100 marks - 50% of the overall grade

What is assessed:

• SECTION A – Core technical principles (20marks)

A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions assessing a breadth of technical knowledge and understanding.

• SECTION B – Specialist technical principles (30 marks)

Several short answer questions (2 – 5 marks) and one extended response to assess a more in-depth knowledge of technical principles.

• SECTION C – Designing and making principles (50 marks)

A mixture of short answer and extended response questions.

Ø  Non-examined assessment (NEA) 30-35 hours of work, 100 marks – 50% of the overall grade

What is assessed:

Practical application of:

• SECTION A - Core technical principles

• SECTION B - Specialist technical principles

• SECTION C - Designing and making principles

Assessment criteria:

-          Identifying and investigating design possibilities

-          Producing a design brief and specification

-          Generating design ideas

-          Developing design ideas

-          Realising design ideas

-          Analysing & evaluating

In the spirit of the iterative design process, the above should be awarded holistically where they take

 place and not linearly.

N.B.

The course requires a high degree of self-discipline, time management and organisational skills to meet a series of clear objectives that are measured in the limited amount of hours spent on each objective. In addition, there will only be a maximum of 12 to a class.

There is an additional cost for materials and trips for this course, which should not exceed £50 per term over the three-year course. The overall additional cost is dependent on the material choices of individual students.