No of Units: 2 | Awarding Board: AQA | Course Code: 8552 |
In Year 10 students complete several small practical projects in order to cover the theory and practices involved in working with wood, metal and plastic. In Year 11 students will undertake a larger project, designing and making a quality item.
Design & Make project (non-examined assessment) = 50%
Exam (taken in the Summer of Year 11) = 50%
Single tier of assessment covering Grades 9-1
This course is aimed at those students who enjoy designing and making in wood, metal and plastic. It builds on the experiences of KS3 Design & Technology, allowing students to further their knowledge of these materials and develop their practical skills. Techniques include working in copper and enamelling, the casting of metals, lathe work in wood, plastic and metal, welding and many others depending on the student’s chosen design.
Students develop their practical products using hand tools and other machinery and equipment, though good use is made of the computer suites and computer controlled equipment available in the department. These include the laser cutter, CAM router, 3D printer and vinyl cutting machines, which allow students to design and make complex products of commercial quality and to learn about industrial methods of manufacture.
It is a practical course, providing skills for life as well as providing a good framework for further study in the Sixth Form, particularly for those students who wish to study A Level Product Design.
There are many opportunities to get involved with competitions both in and out of school. Some students take advantage of applying for an Arkwright Scholarship to help their career.
This course provides a good grounding for pupils thinking about apprenticeships, employment in the building trade or careers in areas such as Product Design, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Teaching, Marine Engineering, Structural Engineering, Interior Design, Materials Science, and Automotive Engineering.
For further information, contact: Miss L. Baron or Mrs H. Herd