Why should I study design and technology?GCSE Design and Technology will prepare pupils to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Pupils will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology, including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. They will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. This course allows pupils to study core technical, 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. What will I study?
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Are there any field trips or enrichment opportunities?
We have previously visited Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull, JCB World HQ in Stafforshire and Yamazaki Mazak in Worcester.
How will I be assessed?
The exam board for this course is AQA and assessment is divided between non-exam assessment (NEA) and a final written exam at the end.
Paper 1
- Written exam split into three sections covering:
- Core technical knowledge
- Specialist technical knowledge
- Designing and Making Principles
- Exam duration: 2 hours
- 100 marks – 50% of GCSE
Non-exam assessment (NEA)
- Practical design and making task
- Pupils submit a prototype and portfolio of research and design work including 3D CAD. The choice of products will be determined by the contextual theme set by the exam board
- 30-35 hours
- 100 marks – 50% of GCSE
- This unit is marked internally by the teacher and then moderated by AQA
Future Prospects/Career Options
GCSE Design & Technology enables students to appreciate the possibilities of further study and progression to courses such as A Level Product Design.
Product Design can lead to a wide choice of courses at degree level and beyond, especially when combined with other appropriate A Levels, such as Maths, Physics, and Art. This can lead to architecture, engineering, product/industrial design, furniture design, jewellery design and silversmithing, computer games design, computer animation, sports equipment design, and design teaching.
This course is also ideal for students who wish to gain an industrial post-16 apprenticeship to gain a Level 3 technical qualification.
What are the next steps?
Should you wish to choose design and technology, you will need to add it as the main choice in the Option 2 box. If you have any further questions about this course, please contact our Teacher of Design and Technology, Mrs Capstick, at
