“Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.”  Thomas Edison

“Technology made large populations possible; large populations now make technology indispensable.”  Joseph Wood Krutch

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” –Steve Jobs

Design and technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils will design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Pupils will acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on disciplines such as mathematics, science, engineering, computing and art. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, you develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

High-quality design and technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing of the nation.

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise.

The new GCSE places greater emphasis on understanding and applying iterative design processes. Students will use their creativity and imagination to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

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Key Stage 3

Pupils will experience a wide range of projects, working with a variety of materials, processes and equipment. During the ‘design process’, pupils will be able to develop and use the following skills:

• Thinking and listening
• Problem solving
• Creativity and innovation
• Research and planning
• Practical

Pupils will work towards a design brief and produce a creative outcome using their knowledge, skills and understanding. The design and make challenge will give pupils the experience of solving a real problem. The use of ICT is promoted through research and development.

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Key Stage 4

Pupils continue to develop their skills in Design and Technology, they will have the opportunity to explore a range of projects using a variety of different materials, which will be supported with theory. Towards the end of the year, pupils will have the opportunity to develop their own project and produce a final outcome. This will help prepare the pupils for the NEA task set in year 11. The use of ICT is promoted through research and development, with the opportunity of using Sketch Up and 2D Design.

Pupils will progress to study AQA GCSE Design and Technology where they will study:

• Core technical principles
• Specialist technical principles
• Designing and making principles.

The course is assessed through a non-examined assessment project, a single design and make task. This will contribute to 50% of the GCSE, with a written paper making up the final mark.

AQA GCSE (9-1) Design & Technology

Spec code: 8552

QAN: 603/0984/2

Useful links:

• http://www.technologystudent.com/despro_flsh/NEW_GCSE3.html
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zvg4d2p
• http://www.mr-dt.com/revisiontests.htm
• https://design-technology.org/

 

Mrs A Newton - Teacher of Design and Technology amber.newton@swale.at