Design and Technology

In Product Design students are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination, in order to make innovative and exciting products. Product Design has an important impact on everyday life and the wider world. The students are encouraged to take this fact in to consideration, when exploring the different design and make tasks.

Within key stage three, students complete a project over the course of a thirteen-week rotation. This has both theory and practical elements to it. The key stage three projects act as a base for the knowledge required at GCSE level. Enabling the students to gain a broad range of subject knowledge.

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Product Design has multiple cross-curricular links. The students are encouraged to use their knowledge from other subjects in order to further their work. With particular emphasis on Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and Science.

Students are encouraged to become independent learners, who can solve every day problems that exist in our society. For example, the A Level Product Design students recently completed a wide range of products, which addressed relevant everyday issues such as ‘Hot Desking’ and ‘Pick Pocketing’.

 

“This year learning product design has been incredible for me, and that is strange coming out of my mouth. I honestly believe due to the teacher and the support of peers that the subject has improved my creativity, self-belief and confidence. I have had the ability to use numerous equipment I have been unknown to use, and I was taken out of my comfort zone. Learning the subject has definitely helped me grow as a person.”
Year 13 Student

During Years 7-9 the following topics are taught:

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

The Racing Car project.

During this project the students cover the following:

  • Health and safety

  • The design process

  • Basic key tools

The Marvellous Maze Project.

During this project the students cover the following:

  • Health and safety

  • CAD/CAM

  • Basic key tools and machinery

The Boom Box Project.

During this project the students cover the following:

  • Health and safety

  • CAD/CAM

  • Basic and advanced tools and machinery

  • Electronic components

Students studying the subject at GCSE follow the AQA specification. During the course, the following topics are covered:

Year 10

Year 11

Unit 1: Written paper (50%)

  • Core technical principles

  • Specialist technical principles

  • Designing and making principles

Unit 2: Controlled Assessment (50%)

  • Identifying and investigating design possibilities

  • Producing a design brief and specification

  • Generating design ideas

  • Developing design ideas

  • Realising design ideas

  • Analysing & evaluating

Unit 1: Written paper (50%)

  • Materials and Components

  • Design and Market Influences

  • Processes and Manufacture

Unit 2: Design and Making Practice (50%)

  • Investigating the design context

  • Development of design proposals

  • Making

  • Testing and evaluation

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.

Students studying the subject at A Level follow the AQA specification. During the course the following topics are covered.

Year 12

Year 13

Practical application of technical principles, designing and making principles. (50% of A Level)

Paper 1: Technical Principle (30% of A Level)

Paper 2: Designing and Making Principles (20% of A Level)

For more detailed information about the course content and assessment requirements, please refer to the examination board website.

Please give any useful websites here – this may have sub-headings for key stages if appropriate

www.technologystudent.com

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design