Design Technology

Design & Technology - Specialist technical principles / Designing and making principles 

All projects at KS3 follow the design cycle – Identify, Analyse, Plan, Research, Specification/Brief, Design, Develop, Manufacture, Test, Evaluate

Programme of study Y7

Audio Amplifier - Real life problem solving / researching principles of sound and amplification / traditional wood working techniques / promoting the product.

Programme of study Y8

Bridge project - Real life problem solving / model making & testing / technical drawing / scaling / wood working / individual and group work / team meetings / creative thinking task.

Programme of study Y9

Design for life, sustainability project -  crafting a sustainable and enterprising product, aiming to generate funds and awareness for ‘The Nautilus Project Gibraltar’.

Assessment

Students are assessed on their practical skills at the end of each term.

Award: GCSE

Awarding Body:  AQA

Specification Code: 8552

Specification Website:  https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/design-and-technology/specifications/AQA-8552-SP-2017.PDF

Design and technology gives young people the skills and abilities to engage positively with the designed and made world and to harness the benefits of technology.  They learn how products and systems are designed and manufactured, how to be innovative and to make creative use of a variety of resources including digital technologies, to improve the world around them.

Unit 1

• Industry and enterprise 

• Sustainability and the environment 

• People, culture and society

• Production techniques and systems

• Informing design decisions

Unit 2

• Energy generation 

• Energy storage 

• Modern materials

• Smart materials 

• Composite materials and technical textiles 

• Systems approach to designing 

• Electronic systems processing 

• Mechanical devices 

Unit 3

• Papers and boards

• Timbers 

• Metals and alloys 

• Polymers 

• Textiles 

Unit 4

• Forces and stresses

• Improving functionality

• Ecological and social footprint

• The six R’s

• Scales of production 

Unit 5A

• Sources, origins and properties 

• Working with paper and board 

• Commercial manufacturing, surface treatments and finishes 

Unit 5B

• Sources and origins 

• Working with timbers 

• Commercial manufacturing 

Unit 5C

• Sources, origins and properties 

• Working with metal based materials 

• Commercial manufacturing, surface treatments and finishes 

Unit 5D

• Sources, origins and properties

• Working with polymers

• Manufacture and finishing 

Unit 5E

• Sources, origins and properties 

• Working with textiles 

• Manufacture and finishing 

Unit 5F

• Sources, origins and properties 

• Working with electronics 

• Manufacturing and finishing  

Unit 6 

• Investigation, primary and secondary data 

• The work of others 

• Design strategies

• Communication of design ideas 

Unit 7 

• Selection of materials and components 

• Tolerances 

• Material management 

• Tools, equipment, techniques and finishes 

• Surface treatments and finishes

Assessments

Paper 1

What's assessed:

- Core technical principles

- Specialist technical principles

- Designing and making principles

How it's assessed:

- Written exam: 2 hours

- 100 marks

- 50% of GCSE

Non-exam assessment (NEA)

What's assessed:

Practical application of core technical principles, specialist technical principles and designing & making principles.

How it's assessed:

Non-exam assessment (NEA): 30–35 hours approx.

100 marks

50% of GCSE

For learners interested in working in the construction industry, but do not know which trade area to specialise in, our Level 1 qualifications in Construction Skills are the perfect opportunity to develop practical skills needed by some employers in the industry, whilst giving you a taster of a variety of trades before choosing to progress into further  learning in a specific trade.

Subject Content

If you choose the Level 1 Extended Certificate, you will study the following mandatory unit:

Introduction to health and safety in construction

You can then choose between six and ten units from the following: Your teacher will be selecting these units for you to play to the strengths and facilities we have available in school. Note that not all areas will be covered necessarily as practical tasks. There will be some theory content covered, as well as the Health & Safety. The main practical elements that we shall cover will fall within carpentry and joinery, but will touch on other areas too. Most areas will be covered in theory content.

•  Introduction to the construction industry

•  Constructing halving joints

•  Constructing housing joints

•  Painting techniques

•  Tiling a plain wall

•  Constructing half brick walling

•  Laying paving using slabs

•  Setting out and laying gravel paths

•  Preparing background surfaces and applying render coats

•  Removing and refitting water-filled radiators

•  Working with non-manipulative fittings

•  Connecting flex to common apparatus

•  Constructing through mortice and tenon joints

•  Constructing angled halving joints

•  Constructing bridle joints

•  Constructing haunched mortice and tenon joints

•  Constructing stub mortice and tenon joints

•  Fixing architraves and skirtings

•  Constructing and fixing hatch linings

•  Fitting locks and latches

•  Painting and wallpapering

•  Applying decorative effects

•  Applying wallpaper to internal and external angles and painting skirting

•  Painting a panel door

•  Cutting and fixing decorative panels

•  Cutting and fixing tiles to wet areas

•  Tiling floors with a border

•  Constructing block walling

•  Constructing half brick return corner

•  Constructing cavity walls in brickwork and block work

•  Constructing one brick walling

•  Laying block paving

•  Laying underground domestic drainage

•  Mixing and using concrete

•  Preparing background surfaces and applying finishing coats

•  Mixing materials and applying floating coats

•  Producing components from moulds

•  Bending and jointing copper pipes

•  Connecting pipes and fittings to appliances

•  Constructing combined frames

•  Installing rain water goods

•  Working with low carbon steel pipes and fittings

•  Assembling 13amp switched sockets wired in ring main

•  Constructing PVC wiring systems

•  Cutting, bending, joining and threading conduit

•  Installing one way lighting circuits

•  Installing two way lighting circuits

This is a Framework qualification that consists of between seven and eleven units of assessment. There are no entry requirements for this qualification and it is available for learners above the age of 14. This is a two year course. The course will consist of three periods per week. One single and one double lesson. The single periods will be dedicated to theory, and the doubles for the practical work.

Assessment

There is no written exam at the end of the course. Student work will be assessed internally and will be subject to tolerances.

This course is a Level 1 certificate aimed primarily at those who may wish to complete a less academic course whilst gaining experience in the construction industry.

To achieve the Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills (6219-05), learners must achieve a minimum of 15 credits, 3 credits from the mandatory unit and a minimum of 12 credits from the optional units, of which 6 credits must come from units 102-137.

A-Level Design & Technology - Product Design

This course will be taught at Bayside School. To access information on this course please turn to page 24 of Bayside School's A-Level Options Booklet.