In Design Technology we encourage pupils of all abilities to make full use of their talents and reach their potential. The department is housed in the Hodgson Building which was recently redesigned and refurbished. The building provides spacious accommodation for all DT activities including a large computer suite, a large Graphics studio and a workshop area. Pupils have gone on to a variety of excellent universities to read courses such as Design and Architecture.

We organise speakers from industry to come and talk to our pupils, demonstrate some of the advanced technology used in business and arrange hands on, practical experience in the workplace.

All pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 have Design Technology lessons giving them the opportunity to gain both practical and theoretical experience.

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 course 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 qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course.

Paper 1

What's assessed?

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

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 2 hours
• 100 marks
• 50% of GCSE
  
  

Coursework

What's assessed

Practical application of:

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

How it's assessed

• Non-exam assessment (NEA): 30–35 hours approx
• 100 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Task(s)

• Substantial design and make task
• Assessment criteria:
• Investigating
• Designing
• Making
• Analysing and Evaluating