Design and Technology

Why study Design and Technology?

GCSE Design and Technology will give you the freedom to design and make complete, functional products from your own ideas and plans. It will teach you how to follow the design process, and give you the skills required to realise your designs successfully.

The course is particularly relevant to anyone considering a career in design, including product design, industrial design and design engineering, and also has a great deal of relevance to the fields of mechanical and civil engineering, manufacture, marketing and architecture.

The course also offers project management and problem-solving skills and the development of oral, written and graphical communication and presentation skills, which are valuable in numerous A Level subjects, university courses and future careers.

How is the course examined?

Non-examined Assessment Design and Make Project (50% of the final grade).

You are required to identify a need for a design or product then research and analyse your chosen problem, write product specifications, produce suitable designs and finally manufacture a prototype or one-off product based on a final design.

This work is submitted as an A3 design folder.

Examination

Written/design paper which accounts for the remaining 50% at the end of Year 11.

What does the course cover?

The course teaches designing and making skills with a particular focus on “resistant” materials such as plastics, woods, and metals. The course will cover the use of workshop machinery and equipment; designing, drawing and presentation skills; modelling and prototyping; knowledge of materials and processes; and knowledge related to design and the design and manufacturing industry.