Design and Technology

Subject Department: DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

Examination Board: EDEXCEL

AS Code: 8109 A2 Code: 9109

Aims of the Course
The aims of the specification are to encourage students to:

	develop and sustain their own innovation, creativity and design and technology capability;
	recognise constraints and to produce high-quality products;
	develop a critical understanding of the influences of the processes and products of design and technological activity from a historical perspective and in current practice;
	apply essential knowledge, understanding and skills of design production processes to a range of technological activities and develop an understanding of industrial practices;
	use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance their design and technological capability;
	develop an understanding of health and safety, to develop spiritual, moral, ethical, social and cultural awareness inherent in design and technological activity and to develop critical evaluation skills in technical, aesthetic, economic, environmental, social and cultural contexts;
	develop as discerning consumers able to make informed choices;
	develop positive attitudes of cooperation and citizenship and work .

Prior Level of Attainment
Design Technology is an interdisciplinary subject, which is designed to be student-focused. Students should have a broad academic background and should have undertaken a course that provides a solid foundation for Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced GCE work. The GCSE Design and Technology, GCSE (Double Award) in Manufacturing, or Engineering, would provide a suitable basis. The study of Art and Design, Physics, Chemistry, Business Studies, Computing, Information and Communication Technology or Electronics would also provide a suitable basis. Students should have a strong interest in designing, modelling, making and evaluating products or systems and an interest in the processes and products of design and technological activity. Advanced GCE Design and Technology is designed to be either a complementary subject to Mathematics, Physics, Art and Design at AS or Advanced GCE level, or a contrasting subject with English, History, Geography and Modern Languages.

Course Content Summary

Unit 1: Product development

An individual product design and manufacture based on a context decided by the student. Work to be presented in an A3 format. This unit is the design and make assignment for the AS examination. Students select their own context, from which they must design and manufacture a product that meets the original context/need. It is envisaged that students will apply knowledge and understanding from other units in order to enhance their design and make activity.

Unit 2: Knowledge and Understanding of Product Design

The unit covers all aspects of Product Design. Precise details can be found in the Edexcel specification.

Graphics with Materials Technology A2

Unit 3 : Further Study of Product Design

The unit covers all aspects of Product Design. Precise details can be found in the Edexcel specification.

Unit 4: Product Development II

An individual product design and manufacture based on a context that is associated with architecture to be decided by the student. This unit is the ‘design and make’ assignment for the A2 examination. It is envisaged that students will apply knowledge and understanding from other units in order to enhance their design and make activity.

Schemes of Assessment

Arkwright Scholarships
It is possible for girls to apply for this nationally recognized, prestigious scholarship. To qualify, the student has to be intending to undertake studies in Science, Maths or Design at A-level with the intention of studying Engineering at University. The girls undertake a very demanding design exam and if they pass they then have to successfully pass a day interview at one of the national universities. This year we are delighted that two of our girls were successful.

Engineering Education Scheme
Working with the Science Department, girls in Year 12 are given the opportunity to work as a team to solve a real engineering problem. They work with a local engineering company and devise a solution to a problem; model the outcome and then make a presentation of their findings to an eminent group of engineers and professors. The course is undertaken as part of the school's curriculum enrichment programme and includes a residential at Birmingham University.

For more information about the engineering scheme, please click here.

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