Windsor High School and Sixth Form, Richmond Street, Halesowen, B63 4BB
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DT v2

GCSE Design and Technology

Curriculum Intent

Provide all students with the knowledge and skills to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world.

Course description

Exam Board: AQA

The new GCSE places greater emphasis on understanding and applying iterative design processes. Students will use their creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Design and Technology is a practical subject area which requires the application of knowledge and understanding when developing ideas, planning and producing products, then evaluating them. The course focuses on using modern materials found in today’s society to support the design of products using ideas and inspiration that will enable needs to be met. These needs are often found in everyday situations which students then set about solving. This is a skills based course in which you will focus on improving knowledge and understanding of materials both through one-off tasks and project work.

In Year 10 you will concentrate on acquiring the technical skills necessary to produce different practical outcomes and learn how to apply the design process. In Year 11 you will concentrate on a self-generated project to showcase the techniques you have acquired in a creative way. As you move through your final project you will learn about current industrial practices used to generate, evaluate, and implement design ideas together with use of the most up to date Computer Aided Design software, which is used throughout the engineering, construction, and design sectors.

Assessment

During Year 10 your work is assessed regularly to give you an understanding of how you are progressing.

The Year 11 project provides 50% of your final grade; this is in the form of controlled assessment, and will be completed entirely in class time. There is also a theory exam worth 50% of your final grade.

Key skills

You will develop the following skills:

  • Written and verbal communication
  • Application of current design and manufacturing techniques
  • Core ICT and industrial design specific skills
  • Team work and task delegation
  • Free hand and CAD designing skills
  • Problem solving and planning
  • Health and Safety in the workshop
  • Industrial evaluation techniques

Where can it take me?

You can continue to study this subject at college and sixth form; this qualification is suited to a wide range of jobs where practical skills, problem solving and the ability to communicate well are needed.

Career Routes:

Construction Industry: Carpentry, Electrical Installation, Property Development, Structural Engineering, Quantity Surveying, and Architecture.

Engineering: Mechanics, Mechanical Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, and Product Designing.


Further Information

Please contact: Mr M Stokes - Curriculum Leader of Design and Technology

Key Stage 4 Design and Technology Curriculum Plan 

GCSE Design and Technology Subject Course Overview