GCSE Design and Technology

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.

Students have 3 lessons a fortnight in Year 10, and 3 lessons a week in Year 11.

Year 10

	Topic	Key Content
Autumn Term -Speaker project – INVESTIGATE – DESIGN- MAKE – EVALUATE	Investigate Design Evaluate	Identify, investigate and outline design possibilities. Design and make prototype model that is fit for purpose. Make electronic speaker component. Analyse and evaluate.
	Practical Make – Model making	Develop idea through model making creating an outcome that is fit for purpose. Make working electronic speaker component.
	Exam topics Core technical principles	New & Emerging technologies, including culture, society and the environment. Energy generation and storage System’s approach to designing. Ecological issues in the design and manufacture of products.
Spring Term – Design and make tasks linked to Materials	Metals and Alloys. Tealight candle holder	Design sketching skills. Metalwork making skills, how to shape and form using cutting abrasion and joining. Finishing materials. Ferrous, non-ferrous and alloys.
	Polymers Chocolate box vacuum forming	Woodwork and vacuum forming, how to shape and form. Thermo & Thermosetting plastics. Specialist manufacturing processes.
	Mechanical devices. Linkages and CAMS modelling	How things move and work. Series of model making tasks that physically demonstrate different types of movement.
	Exam topics Core technical principles	Developments in new materials. Mechanical devices Metals and Alloys Material properties Stock forms. Forces and stresses Scales of production Commercial manufacturing.
Summer Term – Coursework INVESTIGATION	Analysis of context set by AQA Identifying and investigating design possibilities	Design possibilities identified and explored. A user/client has been profiled in relation to task set. Their needs and wants explored. Research into the work of others Analysis of existing products completed and evaluated.
	Exam topics Core technical principles	Ecological and social issues relating to design and manufacture of products. Green design, product life cycle analysis. Investigation into the work of past and present designers.

Year 11

	Topic	Key Content
Autumn Term – Coursework DESIGN & DEVELOP (model making)	Coursework Design & make prototype that is fit for purpose	Design brief and specification Generate a range of design ideas. Develop idea using CAD. Develop idea through model making
	Exam topics Designing and making principles.	REVISION of all theory topics covered preparation for mock exam Drawing practice Maths in practice EXAM Preparation
	MOCK EXAM – Core technical principles of design.
Spring Term – Coursework MAKE & EVALUATE	Coursework MAKE – Realise design idea EVALUATE	Selecting and using appropriate materials tools and equipment to produce working prototype. Analysis and evaluation at all stages of the project. Testing of design. *Coursework Deadline in April
	Exam topics Specialist technical principles	REVISION of all theory topics covered preparation for mock exam
Summer Term – Unit 3 exam preparation	Exam to take place in June Exam topics Core technical principles	SECTION A – Core technical principles SECTION B – Specialist technical principles. SECTION C Designing and making principles. Drawing practice Maths in practice EXAM Preparation
	MOCK EXAM – Core technical principles of design.