DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

GCSE COURSE

GCSE Design and Technology brings with it a welcome standardisation of courses leading on to Design and Technology A Level.

Central to the course is the 'design process' - a system for finding the best solution to a problem. The design process as taught in school closely follows the format used in product design in industry and requires skill in graphics and modelling.

The technological content of the course is concerned with materials, structures, mechanisms, electronics, computers and control and how these are used to overcome design problems.

Craftsmanship is evident in the high standards of quality expected and the wide range of skills needed to manipulate the elements at our disposal. In industry, it can be seen that many of the stages of product design are subject to division of labour but it is essential that a designer has an understanding of all the stages in a product's development from conception to production and marketing in order that he may fully comprehend the implications of his decisions.

The course itself is project based. The coursework, which accounts for 20% of the total marks, will involve pupils studying model making, Systems and Control (e.g. Robotics), Disassembly and C.A.D. The second year of the course is devoted to a project of the pupil's own choice. This major project is worth 40% of the final marks. At the end of the course pupils must undertake a 2½ hour examination which is also worth 40% of the final marks.

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY IN TECHNOLOGY TIME

All pupils who have not chosen the GCSE in Design and Technology and who are not studying Triple Science will follow this course in Technology time. It is a project based course and will involve pupils studying Product Design, Vehicle Design, Model Making and Graphic Design.

ART AND DESIGN IN TECHNOLOGY TIME

Pupils who have chosen Design and Technology as one of their GCSE options will follow this course in Technology time. It is a project-based course and will involve pupils studying Graphic Design, Drawing, Modelling, Construction with Resistant Materials, and Product presentation.

All pupils will finish the course with a 'Folio' to assist them with A Level or further education, interviews etc.