Design Technology

What will be taught ? 

This course will involve the pupils in work of a similar nature to that undertaken lower down the school, in as much as it emphasises the skills required to produce artefacts that are not just well designed and attractive to look at, but are also well made and useful.  The resistant materials title refers to the use of woods, metals and plastics as the most suitable materials for the manufacture of the pupils projects.

The course will give the pupils a wide understanding of how design and manufacturing can take place both in  school workshops and in the real commercial world, and therefore covers such areas as materials technology, health and safety issues, economic considerations, quality control, as well as the methods designers can employ to ensure the consumers get the products they want. In other words it strives to give a good impression of how a modern industrial society develops and produces the products we all use on a daily basis.

The use of information technology is an established and integral part of the work undertaken by the pupils, both in the presentation of their design work, and in the research they do in developing their knowledge of chosen areas of work.

 

How will it be taught ?

The main areas of activity are project based, and will involve the pupils in selecting topics to work on which, with the exception of their first project, allows for considerable freedom of choice of activity.  The end results have to be supported by a design folio showing how the work was undertaken and what decisions were made in order to reach a suitable outcome.

In the 4th Year the work is aimed at developing the designing and manufacturing skills of the individual pupils in readiness for the project they submit as their coursework.

Along side their individual work, the topics required for their design and manufacturing written paper are covered in lessons through discussion, demonstration and the use of relevant text books.

 

How will it be examined ?

The main project undertaken after Easter of the 4th Year will make up 40% of the marks.  A further 20% comes from the supporting folio and the final 40% is gained from the written paper.

The exam board is AQA, and is offered at Foundation level (grades C- G) and at a Higher level (grades A*- D).

As we expect our pupils to produce work of a high standard it is desirable for them to take advantage of our workshop facilities over and above their timetable allocation and there are ample opportunities for them to do this throughout the week.