Design and Technology

The Course

Design and Technology is a subject that brings learning to life, requiring learners to apply their learning to real-life situations. This qualification aims to relate authentic real-world awareness of iterative design practices and strategies used by the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. Learners will be required to use critical thinking leading towards invention and design innovation, to design and make prototypes that solve real and relevant problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

To complement the development of designing and making skills, students will be able to further their knowledge and understanding of the generic aspects of design, including materials & material properties, manufacturing & production systems, style & fashion, digital systems – CAD CAM, Health & Safety, obsolescence, anthropometrics, global economic considerations, advertising & marketing, the social & moral impact of design and renewable energy.

How are you Assessed?

Principles of Design and Technology 50%

2 hour written paper during summer exam session of Year 11. This component brings together the learners’ ‘core’ and ‘in-depth’ knowledge and understanding:

‘Core’ knowledge of Design and Technology principles
‘In-depth’ knowledge allows learners to focus more directly on at least one main material category or design engineering.

A minimum of 15% of the paper will assess KS3 mathematical skills in a DT context.

NEA Interactive Design Challenge

50% Designing & Making (Approx. 40 hours), This component offers the opportunity for learners to demonstrate understanding of and skills in iterative designing, in particular:

the interrelated nature of the processes used to identify needs and requirements.
design and create a product to meet those needs of others.
evaluating whether the needs have been met.

Trips, Opportunities, Progression

This qualification will give learners an opportunity to engage with creativity and innovation, and to understand how they can be enhanced by the application of knowledge from other disciplines such as Mathematics, Science, Art and Design, Computing and Humanities. Design & Technology helps you develop skills in creativity, problem solving and project management, as well as independent, imaginative, innovative and intuitive thinking; valuable skills wherever you are heading. Communication skills are also developed to a high level, both graphically and through creative and analytical writing. You already have the foundation skills to achieve highly in this subject.

The Design Centre is fully equipped to carry out all design processes, giving you plenty of scope for designing and making activities. Our dedicated IT facilities give students access to professional computer aided design systems, together with computer manufacturing machines such as four 3D printers, a laser cutter, a vinyl cutter and a CNC router.

There is a thriving and high achieving A level course in Design Engineering with good continuity skills developed lower down the school. Many Design & Technology students from JCG have made successful careers in constructional engineering, architecture, product design, interior design, packaging design and automotive design.