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Head of Department: Mr A Milner

Email: [email protected]

Examination Board: AQA

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. Our GCSE allows students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth. 

This specification encourage students to:

• demonstrate their understanding that all design and technological activity takes place within contexts that influence the out- comes of design practice and develop realistic design proposals as a result of the exploration of design opportunities and users’ needs, wants and values
• use imagination, experimentation and combine ideas when designing and develop the skills to critique and refine their own ideas whilst designing and making and communicate their design ideas and decisions using different media and techniques, as appropriate for different audiences at key points in their designing
• develop decision making skills, including the planning and organisation of time and resources when managing their own project work. Develop a broad knowledge of materials, components and technologies and practical skills to develop high quality, imaginative and functional prototypes and be ambitious and open to explore and take design risks in order to stretch the development of design proposals, avoiding clichéd or stereotypical responses
• consider the costs, commercial viability and marketing of products and demonstrate safe working practices in design and technology while use key design and technology terminology including those related to: designing, innovation and communication; materials and technologies; making, manufacture and production; critiquing, values and ethics

Practical work is worth 10% of the course. Port-folio work is worth 40% of the course and an external examination is worth 50% of the course.

AO1: Identify, investigate and outline design possibilities to address needs and wants

AO2: Design and make prototypes that are fit for purpose

AO3: Analyse and evaluate: design decisions and outcomes, including for prototypes made by themselves and others wider issues in design and technology

AO4: Demonstrate and apply knowledge and understanding of: technical principles, designing and making principles.

There is progression to related AS/A2 subjects in Southport, though these may not have exactly the same titles, National Diplomas in Engineering. A Design Technology GCSE will contribute to any Further Education entry qualifications.