curriculum
At Key Stage 4 our curriculum is developed to support learners who want to learn and progress on to further design-related courses, apprenticeships or a career in the design, engineering and construction industry.
The GCSE Design Technology content and assessment requirements ensure our learners develop an appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding in Design and Technology. In the technical principles element, learners are required to study five areas of core knowledge and understanding and an in-depth knowledge of woods and natural timbers. The course is delivered through various software packages, practical activities and theory-based learning.
Component 1: Design and Technology in the 21st Century
The core technical principals are:
• Design and Technology and our world
• Smart materials
• Electronic systems and programmable components
• Mechanical components and devices
• Materials
This will be assessed through a 2 hour written examination which is out of 100 marks and forms 50% of the GCSE qualification.
Component 2: Design and Make Task
This is course work based and will be around a theme issued by the examination board. The assessment is also out of 100 and forms the other 50% of the qualification. Students will need to use various mediums to present design ideas, and construct a model and prototype of their design. This can be done using more traditional methods or using our state of the art CNC equipment and rapid prototyping machines.
During the 35-hour controlled assessment, students have the opportunity to investigate themes, develop specifications and to design and solve a real-life problem.
