GCSE Design Technology (AQA 8552)

All students will follow the AQA GCSE specification in Design Technology. They will begin the course in Year 9 and complete it over three years. The course will end with an examination in Year 11.

 Product Design is a mixture of practical and theory based work which requires the application of knowledge and understanding regarding how to develop ideas, plan, produce products and evaluate them. Topics studied include;

• System designing (input, process and output)
• Material Properties including timbers, metals and polymers
• New & Emerging Technologies
• Energy Storage & Generation

The course allows students to develop many skills which will benefit them in pursuing future employment in areas such as architecture, designing, product design

AQA GCSE

This course is a GCSE qualification.

The course is designed to support and develop a full range of theoretical and practical skills used in everyday working environments.

Students will be assessed using grades 1-9, please see the assessment section for more information.

Course Content

• Specification No:8552
• The course is split into three key areas
  • Core technical principles
  • Specialist technical principles
  • Designing and making principles
• Core technical principles covers a range of materials, whilst specialist technical materials covers a specific material area in greater detail.

Assessment

Unit 1 is a 2 hour written exam paper with a total of 100 marks which equates to 50% of the total GCSE qualification. 20 marks are based around multi choice. 30 marks are based around technical principles. 50 marks are awarded for extended responses including a 12 mark design question.

Unit 2 is a 35 hour non exam assessment based around a given task. Marks are awarded for Investigating, designing, making and analysing/evaluating.

Progression

The course offers progression to an A-Level in 3D Product Design and university or employment in a range of areas.