Design and Technology

Design and Technology

Board AQA Specification 8552

The course develops your capacity to critically analyse and evaluate a problem from a technical and aesthetic viewpoint. Creative design solutions are developed and manufactured through a thorough understanding of materials, an awareness of environmental constraints, new technologies and modern manufacturing processes.

The specification consists of two assessed units: a written design examination and a product design project (non-exam assessment).

The examination (50% of overall grade):

This is a two hour written paper which is divided into three sections: The questions are presented in a mixture of technologies, developments in materials and material properties and control systems. These questions focus on a range of material

Core technical principles (20%)

Specialist technical categories in more depth, for example:

principles (30%) compliant and resistant materials and electronic and mechanical systems. This section includes short and extended

Designing and making written and graphical responses to questions multiple choice and short answer questions that relate to: new and emerging

principles (50%). on design in society, the work of others and modern industrial manufacturing techniques.

The Non-Exam Assessment (50% of overall grade):

This element affords you the chance to explore an everyday design opportunity and through the iterative design process design, develop and manufacture a prototype. A design portfolio consisting of no more than 20 A3 pages will accompany the prototype and developmental models.

Entry requirements:

The Key Stage three curriculum at Ashford School has been designed to equip you with the skills required to access and flourish in Design and Technology at GCSE. Our most successful students have a creative, inquisitive and analytical mind, the ability to communicate and visualise their design solutions and have a good grasp of basic mathematical principles. However, above all they enjoy the subject and have an interest in shaping the world that they live in.

What next?

The GCSE course naturally feeds into the A level Product Design course which combined with Mathematics, the Sciences or Art and Design provide a strong foundation for a wealth of degree courses and careers. The following are just a few: Product Design, Industrial Design, Fashion, Video gaming platforms, Broadcast Media Design and Technology Communication, Engineering, Sports Technology, Medical and Surgical Engineering, Interior Design and Architecture. Due to the nature of the subject, it can also be paired with contrasting subjects to provide a broad platform with problem solving at its heart.