Introduction
Design and Technology now not just about practical projects. It covers theory aspects and design aspects too.
Design and Technology offers students the ability to use skills and knowledge to creatively and independently design and make products. The subject requires maturity, independence, discipline, time management, problem solving skills and creativity.
How is the course assessed?
When opting for this course, it is important to realise that a wide variety of skills, abilities and knowledge will be assessed.
The GCSE Design and Technology course is split into two assessments, both are worth 50% of the total marks for the exam. The two assessments are an exam paper and a Non-Exam Assessment, or course work.
Course Content
Exam Paper (50%) This two-hour exam is broken down into 3 sections:
• Core Technical Principles
• Specialist Technical Principles
• Design & Making Principles
Non-Examination Assessment (50%) This is a Design and Make task and covers 4 main areas:
• Investigating
• Designing
• Making
• Evaluating
This is worth 50% of the total GCSE marks. This will be marked and assessed by the teacher, under the exam board’s strict guidelines. Pupils will design and make a product which will be a task given to them by the exam board. Pupils will be able to choose their own projects from the limited range set by the Exam Board. However, the course in Year 10 will have a significant amount of practical and CAD/CAM work.
Essential Requirements
D&T is subject which bridges the Arts and Technology subjects. It is ideal for people with practical backgrounds or equally artistic and design skills. Such is the nature of the subject that it would be possible to choose projects that lean heavily towards engineering-based projects or more artistic design-based projects, using graphics.
Future Pathways
As our economy begins to rely again on the manufacturing industry, we aim to provide courses to prepare students to thrive in careers with bright futures. Architecture, industrial design, food scientist, fashion designer, interior designer and mechanical engineer are just a few of the possible opportunities.
Here are some websites for you to find out more about careers in DT…and make an informed choice:
Help and advice for a Creative Career:
http://www.creative-choices.co.uk
Tomorrow’s Engineers:
http://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/students/career-finder/