Design & Technology - Mr G Stagg (Curriculum Leader: Design Technology)
Aims of the course
The course aims to help you develop knowledge, skills and understanding in Design and Technology. All subjects share the DESIGN PROCESS. It will encourage you to develop an awareness of technology through practical problem-solving situations related to every day experiences. The course will allow you to work with a range of materials and processes, selecting resources effectively, in order to complete your design and make projects in your chosen subject area.
Which course is right for me?
You can only choose one of the following courses:
- Resistant Materials
- Graphic Products
- Food & Nutrition
- Catering and Hospitality
- Textile Technology
The details about each course are given below. It is important that you talk to your D & T and Food or Textiles teachers in the coming weeks. They can advise you and help you to come to the right decisions on which option to choose.
Resistant Materials- Mr G Stagg (Curriculum Leader: Design Technology)
(Please note that this GCSE course is available in the time normally allocated to one option subject or two option subjects, the latter to cater for students who may require a less demanding curriculum pace.)
This course is concerned with the designing and making of products and artefacts using wood, metal and plastic.
The DESIGNING aspect of the course will include identifying needs and opportunities, research and investigation skills, appreciating the needs of a ‘client’, product analysis and an understanding of the real world of design and manufacture. Products will be developed from initial ideas, through a detailed development, to the production of working drawings and planned production sequences.
Through MAKING, you will develop an understanding of the use of different materials to produce quality artefacts. You will learn the necessary practical skills involved in using a wide range of hand tools and machines to work materials effectively.
You will be introduced to batch and mass production techniques, as well as the use and application of basic mechanisms.
Graphic Products - Mr G Stagg (Curriculum Leader: Design Technology)
This course provides opportunities in designing, making and evaluating with a focus on exploring spaces using visual impact and communication.
Through a series of creative Design & Make activities, you will identify needs arising from real life situations including existing products, artefacts and systems. These tasks will include the production of two and three-dimensional models.
The course offers the opportunity to develop graphic skills through a selection of compliant materials. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate a wide range of graphic techniques including advertising, aspects of interior design, displays and product launches. The use of ICT to manipulate and generate ideas using CAD programs and Adobe Photoshop will assist in the production of 2D and 3D solutions. Commercial printing methods and other related industrial processes are also studied.
Food & Nutrition - Mrs N Downey (Subject Leader: Food Technology)
This course focuses on using food as a material to design and make products arising from real life needs and situations. Food Technology is an enjoyable and ‘hands on’ subject.
In Food & Nutrition we will be supporting in-depth theory work with a wide range of practical activities. You will develop a full range of making skills while you learn about the function and role of nutrients and the relationship between diet and health. This will be linked to the nutritional needs of different groups in society and how food choice is influenced by cultural and religious diversity. Through practical and experimental work you will be able to learn about cooking methods and the effect preparation methods have on nutrients.
As an integral part of the course you will use and develop a wide range of ICT skills to support research, industrial practice and sensory evaluation.
A commitment to planning, organising and preparing ingredients on a regular basis is a course requirement.
Assessment in Food & Nutrition
In Year 10 students complete 3 short investigative tasks. Each task has a theoretical component completed in class and a practical assignment completed under examination conditions.
In Year 11 one longer task is completed and research findings are illustrated through a piece of written coursework. This is supported by a practical assignment completed under examination conditions.
Catering & Hospitality - Mrs N Downey (Subject Leader: Food Technology)
This is a single award GCSE.
A study of Hospitality and Catering will give students an overview of the catering industry, focusing on food preparation and presentation, nutrition and menu planning, costing and portion control. Within this framework the importance of health, safety and hygiene will be considered along with environmental factors raised by the industry.
This course will also provide students with knowledge of the different job roles within catering and the importance of team work. This GCSE will enable students to develop their food knowledge and skills in a more vocational context. In Hospitality & Catering we will be supporting theory work with a wide range of skill development and practical activities. Catering is a ‘hands on’ subject and a wide range of skills will be developed.
A commitment to planning, organising and preparing ingredients on a regular basis is a course requirement. Students are also expected to wear Chef Whites.
Assessment in Hospitality and Catering
In Year 10 students complete a research based Commodity Task. Research findings are supported by a practical assignment completed under examination conditions.
In Year 11 students complete a longer task relating to catering, food and the customer.
Research and evaluative work are completed in a written project and practical skills are assessed under examination conditions.
Textiles Technology - Mrs P Walker (Subject Leader: Textiles)
If you enjoy being creative when making textile products, you will enjoy GCSE Textiles.
In Year 10, you will develop an understanding of a range of fibres and fabrics so that you are able to select the most suitable materials to use. You will be taught how the textiles industry manufactures in quantity, and will learn the importance of, and how to use computers to design and manufacture products. By designing and making a piece of clothing and a decorated product, your creative and practical skills will be developed. Theory work is used to support all practical activities throughout the course.
For the written paper you will develop a working knowledge of textiles materials and components appropriate to modelling, prototyping and manufacturing, with an emphasis on product analysis, sustainability and environmental issues.
The coursework consists of a single design and make activity selected from a range of exam board set tasks.
There is no formal entry requirement, but a flair for design and an ability to produce accurate practical work under pressure of time would be advantageous.
Textiles combines well with Art, Business Studies, Photography or English (Journalism).
Further Education: Art Foundation Courses, BTEC National Diplomas.
Higher Education: Degrees in Fashion Design, Fabric Designer, Pattern Cutter, Costume Design, Interior Design, Marketing or Retail, Journalism.
Assessment in Design Technology
The assessment of all these Design Technology courses will be based on the full range of GCSE grades from A* to G.
The final examination has a weighting of 40%, with untiered entry and coursework has a weighting of 60% and is not tiered. There will be one substantial task for you to undertake during the course, that will be assessed using the full range of grades A* to G.
After GCSE?
Most of the subjects offered within Design and Technology can be taken to ‘AS’ or ‘A2’ level in the Sixth Form if you achieve a good pass at GCSE. It is important to consider possible subject choices in the Sixth Form now as you should follow the appropriate GCSE course that is a foundation for later study. For example you should choose the GCSE Textiles Technology course if you wish to take Textiles at A level. Design and Technology qualifications are acceptable for entrance into universities. Of course, if post-16 is not for you, employers value a GCSE in Graphic Products as it develops creative, technical and transferable skills.
Careers
Most areas of engineering, telecommunications, architecture, electronics industries, mining, manufacturing industries, advertising, cartography, business and commerce, caring services, consumer services, education, food and manufacturing industries, health education, journalism, leisure services, public relations, research and development, retailing, sales and marketing, fashion and design.