GCSE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

In the Year 9 Handbook we explained that this year the pupils in Year 9 will be asked to make a preliminary choice of Design & Technology material area in which they would like to study for GCSE, based on the work they have undertaken in the three material areas at the start of the spring term.

We hope that this will result in the pupils undertaking more productive and enjoyable Design & Technology lessons for the spring and summer terms and provide them with an excellent foundation for their GCSE courses. The exact structure of the groups will have to change on transition from Year 9 into Year 10 due to the other options selected but every effort will be made for students to continue in their preferred area.

The notes below explain the differences and similarities between the three courses on offer in Design & Technology at GCSE level.

Three options will be offered within Design & Technology for examination in 2010.

GCSE Design & Technology: Food Technology

GCSE Design & Technology: Product Design

GCSE Design & Technology: Textiles Technology

They all have a common aim – to enable pupils to develop and demonstrate fully their capability to design and make quality products – and acquire knowledge and understanding of an appropriate material area.

In addition, the specifications include new Assessment Objectives that make them more relevant to the 21 st Century. These are:

Materials, components, techniques and industrial practices.
Evaluation of processes and products including examining the wider effects of design and technology on society.

Food Technology

The Food Technology specification provides opportunities for pupils to investigate, design, make and evaluate – focusing on the use of food as a material. During the course, students will acquire an appropriate knowledge and understanding of the nature of food as a material, its properties, the effect of processing and the appropriate selection of tools and equipment.

Product Design

This is a relatively new specification, first examined in 2003. Pupils will work with a wide range of materials including: paper/card; timber based materials; metals and plastics and other compliant materials if appropriate. The students will also develop their graphical communication skills. Year 11 students will be able to focus on materials they prefer to work with for their main project.

Textiles Technology

The Textiles Technology specification is concerned with designing and making activities delivered through the use of textiles as the principle material. The course looks at the use of textiles as a fashion material and its use in furnishings and will provide opportunities for focusing on both these areas in order to produce designs that are functional, aesthetically pleasing and fun to create.

Course Structure

The basic structure of the course is the same for the three courses on offer:

In Year 10 pupils build on their design experiences from Key Stage 3. They will undertake a number of relatively short projects of between 6 and 12 weeks; some focussed to develop specific skills and some that are similar to full design projects. Through these, they will extend their knowledge of the specific materials for their course and develop their design and making skills with these materials. Towards the end of Year 10 the students will be introduced to a range of ‘Project Outlines’ for their final major project and initial research will be planned and started.

The majority of work on the Major Project is carried out in Year 11. Students will be expected to spend a total of 40 hours working on this project. This includes a significant commitment of time at home producing the design folder, as class time is required for the making component. The project must be completed by Easter 2010, but it is our aim to finish the projects earlier if possible. The individual teacher will set the deadline for each group. The remainder of Year 11 will be spent preparing for the final written examination. The examination board provides a theme or topic in the March of the examination year and students will work to gather appropriate knowledge and understanding of that topic.

Assessment

During the course the assessment pattern employed by staff will follow the same format as the final assessment of coursework so that students become familiar with what is expected of them.

The scheme of Assessment for Design & Technology is common to all three courses offered. It consists of two parts:

Written Paper: taken in the Summer Term of Year 11

All questions on this examination are compulsory. They test the candidates’ application of knowledge and understanding of the materials, components, processes and techniques they have been studying.

The examination is 2 hours and carries 40% of the total marks.

Coursework Project: consisting of approximately 40 hours work undertaken between the start of Year 11 and the end of March in Year 11.

The major project allows students to demonstrate their knowledge of materials and processes, their designing and making skills and their ability to evaluate their design work and its effects on society.

The coursework carries 60% of the total marks.

Homework

Students following the Design & Technology courses are required to work at home.

The majority of this work will be directly related to the project work currently being undertaken with a focus on the production of a folder of evidence of research, analysis, ideas and development, planning and evaluation.

As all students work at different paces each project is individual – it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they are using their homework time appropriately and relevantly. Periodic checks are made and advice/targets set to guide this work.

In addition to project work, homework will also be used to promote acquisition of knowledge or develop skills and to help prepare for tests/examinations by researching topics.