Vocational Pathway

Design & Technology

Qualification Overview

GCSE Design and Technology prepares pupils to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. This course allows pupils to gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Pupils have the opportunity to develoop and use their cretaive skills to design and make using technical and practical expertise.

Approach to Learning

Pupils are required to use the iterative design process of repeatedly exploring, creating and evaluating to improve their prototypes. The course is taught using practical work where possible to ensure good knowledge and understanding. There is also written work, drawing and use of ICT too.

The first task is to design and make a mug stand. Following on from this pupils explore materials to design a toy for a child. Once the pupils have the core knowledge they need, they can use it to design and make a prototype for the theme set by the exam board.

A Closer Look

This course allows pupils to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. Pupils also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth. Modules within the course include:

> Core technical principles

> New and emerging technologies

> Materials and their properties

> Specialist technical principles

> Design and making principles

Progression

This course can lead to Level 3 qualifications in Craft, Design and Technology

Design & Technology Entry Level Unit Award

Aqa

Qualification Overview

This Unit Award allows all pupils to engage with learning and have their achievements formally recognised.

Pupils are rewarded with a certificate each time they successfully complete a unit of learning. They build up a portfolio of certificates to evidence their skills, knowledge and experience.

The scheme boosts confidence, increases engagement and improves motivation, helping students to make progress on their lifelong learning journey.

Approach to Learning

The course is taught using practical work where possible to ensure good knowledge and understanding but there is written work, drawing and use of technology.

A Closer Look

We start by designing and making a useful product that can be used in the home. Pupils explore other materials when designing and making other products. Once the pupils have the core knowledge they need, they can use it to design and make alternative products of their choice.

Progression

This course can lead to Level 2 qualifications in Craft, Design and Technology

Engineering

Btec

Edexcel, BTEC

Qualification Overview

On this course pupils will learn about how Engineering and Engineers have helped shape the modern World; how products are resourced, designed and manufactured; and how engineering is in the forefront of making our planet a cleaner and greener place.

Approach to Learning

There are a wide range of practical elements to this course combined with research and written elements. If pupils have a genuine interest in Engineering and are hoping to improve thier skills and abilities with a view to a career in engineering, then this is the ideal course.

A Closer Look:

Modules within the course include:

> The Engineered World

> Investigating Engineering Products and Machining Techniques

The course is assessed through coursework and external examination.

Units are assessed at Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction

Progression

Successful completion of this course can lead onto progression in Sixth Form, with an Apprenticeship or University beyond Sixth Form or Further Education.

Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE

Qualification Overview

This qualification equips pupils with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It encourages pupils to cook, enables them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition and allows them to acquire knowledge to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life.

Approach to Learning

In the first year of the course, the pupils study a different food commodity each half term. Commodities include meat, fish, fruit and vegetables and dairy. Each week, the pupils will learn about science and theory behind each commodity through a range of multi sensory teaching activities. As well as the theoretical side, there will be a practical cooking session each week. At the end of each half term, the pupils will be assessed on cooking a dish of their choice to show off the commodity that they have been covering. The second year covers the two practical assessments and revising for their end of year exam.

A Closer Look:

The qualification is divided into three themes that are covered through two practical based assessments and an end of year examination:

A Food Investigation assessment that allows the pupils to plan and carry out a series of experiments into a chosen scientific cooking process. Examples from previous years include where pupils have investigated which sugar makes the best sponge cakes and what raising agents work best in scones.

A Food Preparation assessment, this includes a 3-hour practical session which will allow the pupils to showcase the skills that they have been taught. Pupils will carry out research into the chosen topic that will help them identify the three dishes that they would like to prepare and cook. The pupils will then trial and practise these dishes many times, before cooking them for their assessment

A written examination in Year 11. An exam that includes a short answer and a longer answer sections that cover a range of question types to assess scientific processes, nutrition and diet, cooking methods and food safety.

Progression

Successful completion of this course would lead nicely into our BTEC Level 3 in Hospitality. Alternatively, pupils could go on to study hospitality full time at a college or undertake an apprenticeship in professional cookery or food service.

Health and Social Care

BTEC Level 1/ Level 2 Tech Award

Pearson

Qualification Overview

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Health and Social Care is for pupils who want to acquire sector-specific applied knowledge through vocational contexts by studying human lifespan development, health and social care services and values, and health and wellbeing as part of their Key Stage 4 learning.

Approach to Learning

The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden pupils’ experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.Two components are assesed internally, and one component is assessed through external assesment.

A Closer Look

This qualification includes three components:

> Human Lifespan Development

> Health and Social Care Services and Values

> Health and Wellbeing

The three components focus on the assessment of applied knowledge and practices. These are all essential to developing a basis for progression and therefore learners need to achieve all components in order to achieve the qualification.

Progression

This qualification leads onto A Levels as preparation for entry to higher education in a range of subjects. The qualification can also lead onto study of a vocational qualification at Level 3, such as a BTEC National in Health and Social Care. This prepares learners to enter employment or apprenticeships, or to move on to higher education by studying a degree in the health or social care sector.

Hospitality and Catering

BTEC Level 1

Pearson

Qualification Overview

This Certificate is suitable for pupils who wish to study a vocational qualification alongside other qualifications and activities as part of their study programme. It encourages pupils to cook and allows them to acquire knowledge to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life. Learners will also learn how to serve food and drink and offer fantastic customer service. This is mostly a practical course that will suit learners who love “doing”.

Approach to Learning

Each unit has some underpinning knowledge taught at the start through a variety of teaching methods. Using this knowledge, the pupils research, plan and carry out practical activities that include cooking and food service. The delivery and assessment of pupils’ work is designed to build awareness of the different sectors in hospitality and tourism and the skills required to work in it. Pupils will be given scenarios and real work to help them develop skills and to acquire knowledge that they can use throughout their lives. All assessment is conducted internally and then externally moderated. This means that there are no end of year exams.

A Closer Look

The qualification is divided into units, some of which are compulsory and some optional.

There are two compulsory units to be covered: Being Organised and Developing a Personal Development Plan. Hospitality provides us with the perfect opportunity to embed these important life skills into all the practical work they undertake. Pupils are challenged to evaluate their own performance, identify ways to improve and then implement these in future lessons.

A minimum of three optional units are covered that include the practical based, Food Preparation and Cooking, Food Service and Customer Service. We also look to give a wider insight into hospitality by covering the Investigating Local Visitor Attractions Unit. We complete the course by undertaking the Running of a Hospitality Event Unit.

Progression

Successful completion of this course would lead nicely into our BTEC Level 2 in Hospitality. Alternatively, pupils could go on to study hospitality full time at a college or undertake an apprenticeship in professional cookery or food service.

Humanities

Entry Level Certificate

WJEC Qualification Overview

This inclusive, responsive and accessible qualification draws upon a variety of interesting Humanities based and personal development units. The units are based upon the following subject areas:

> Personal Development

> Geography

> History

Approach to Learning

Our approach is multi-sensory and uses experience that can be evidenced against particular criteria. For example, in the ‘Working as part of an Effective Team’ module pupils are assessed in their planning, delivery and review of a school event. One module is focused on the pupils working towards an individual goal. This can be subject related, or more personal. For example, research and being ready to apply for a particular career. Other units focus on renewable energy, this does involve pupils conducting an audit of the school.

A Closer Look

The modules within the course include

> Threatened Ecosystems

> Changing Trends in UK Tourism and Sustainable Tourism

> People and Protest

> Working as part of an Effective Team

> Setting an Individual Goal

Progression

Progression onto Level 1 or Level 2 courses could be made. The courses could be focused on a range of different courses usually within a Further Education setting.

Sports Science

Level 1/2

NCFE

Qualification Overview

In this qualification you will gain a greater insight into the world of sport science. You will learn about how to keep fit and healthy as well as how to prepare athletes for elite performance.

Approach to Learning

This qualification is a coursework based subject for all modules. Your assignments will be completed and graded with the support of your teachers and work will be sent off at the end of each unit for moderation. Assignments will include practical assessments as well as written reports.

A Closer Look

Over the two years of the course you will complete the following four units;

> Anatomy and physiology for exercise

> Introduction to healthy exercise and nutrition

> Physical fitness and injuries in sport

> Participating in sport

Progression

At Bredon we offer a Level 3 Certificate in Sport and Outdoor Education. This course has UCAS points associated with it should you wish to continue your education further.