GCSE DT: Electronic Systems

You will study a broad course of Design & Technology which builds on the core of what you have been taught across Key Stage 3 and you will choose to look at the Electronic Systems in more detail as an Electronics specialist. The course will teach you about the electronics you need to make a high level product for your GCSE coursework (Non Examined Assessment) through practical, project work and theory lessons which will underpin your understanding. 

SPECIFICATION LINK: 1DT0

COURSE INFORMATION: Edexcel Design Technology: Electronic Systems (603/0698/1)

Design & Technology isn’t JUST one subject, it’s a fusion of lots of subjects. It doesn’t just cover Electronics, Product Design and Textiles, it includes Maths and Science. It teaches you to use D&T with Maths and Science to produce a high quality outcome, just like you have done in Key Stage 3. You’ll get to work in a multiple of Design & Technology subjects and use them together to produce something GREAT!

Year 10 is used to build on what we learn at Key Stage 3 and learn new content through some high level projects, which will stretch and challenge you to produce something amazing! It will give you a strong basis of knowledge, as well as making skills and folder work, which can then be applied to Coursework, which we start at the end of Year 10 and counts for 50% of your final grade. Electronic Systems theory is taught through Circuit Wizard and we use Autodesk to model our casing, which are both available to take home for free.

Coursework (NEA) starts at the end of Year 10 and worked on in Year 11. You will have to produce a portfolio which demonstrates your ability to research, design, develop, make and evaluate your chosen product from a list of themes set by the exam board. Students studying Design Technology will need to provide components and materials for coursework or contribute towards the cost of components for practical work as you will keep whatever you make.

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

• Controlled Assessment - 50% Students complete an extended Design and Make project
• Written Paper - 50% (1hr 45min paper)

GCSE DT: Fashion and Textiles

You will study a broad course of Design & Technology which builds on the core of what you have been taught across Key Stage 3 and you will choose to look at Fashion & Textiles in more detail as a Fashion & Textiles specialist. The course will teach you about the fabrics you need to make a high level product for your GCSE coursework (Non Examined Assessment) through practical, project work and theory lessons which will underpin your understanding. 

SPECIFICATION LINK: 1DT0

COURSE INFORMATION: Edexcel Design Technology: Fashion & Textiles (603/0698/1)

Design & Technology isn’t JUST one subject, it’s a fusion of lots of subjects. It doesn’t just cover Electronics, Product Design and Textiles, it includes Maths and Science. It teaches you to use D&T with Maths and Science to produce a high quality outcome, just like you have done in Key Stage 3. You’ll get to work in a multiple of Design & Technology subjects and use them together to produce something GREAT!

Year 10 is used to build on what we learn at Key Stage 3 and learn new content through some high level projects, which will stretch and challenge you to produce something amazing! It will give you a strong basis of knowledge as well as making skills and folder work, which can then be applied to Coursework, which we start at the end of Year 10 and counts for 50% of your final grade. Fashion & Textiles theory is taught through a range of methods including hand sketching, practical skills and Computer Aided Design software.

Coursework (NEA) starts at the end of Year 10 and worked on in Year 11. You will have to produce a portfolio which demonstrates your ability to research, design, develop, make and evaluate your chosen product from a list of themes set by the exam board. Students studying Design Technology will need to provide fabrics for coursework or contribute towards the cost of components for practical work as you will keep whatever you make.

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

• Controlled Assessment - 50% Students complete an extended Design and Make project
• Written Paper - 50% (1hr 45min paper)

GCSE DT: Product Design

You will study a broad course of Design & Technology which builds on the core of what you have been taught across Key Stage 3 and you will choose to look at Product Design in more detail as a Product Design specialist. The course will teach you about the Timbers, Metals and Polymers you need to make a high level product for your GCSE coursework (Non Examined Assessment) through practical, project work and theory lessons which will underpin your understanding. 

SPECIFICATION LINK: 1DT0

COURSE INFORMATION: Edexcel Design Technology: Product Design (603/0698/1)

Design & Technology isn’t JUST one subject, it’s a fusion of lots of subjects. It doesn’t just cover Electronics, Product Design and Textiles, it includes Maths and Science. It teaches you to use D&T with Maths and Science to produce a high quality outcome, just like you have done in Key Stage 3. You’ll get to work in a multiple of Design & Technology subjects and use them together to produce something GREAT!

Year 10 is used to build on what we learn at Key Stage 3 and learn new content through some high level projects, which will stretch and challenge you to produce something amazing! It will give you a strong basis of knowledge as well as making skills and folder work, which can then be applied to Coursework, which we start at the end of Year 10 and counts for 50% of your final grade. Product Design theory is taught through a range of methods and we use Autodesk to model your work on CAD, which is available to take home for free.

Coursework (NEA) starts at the end of Year 10 and worked on in Year 11. You will have to produce a portfolio which demonstrates your ability to research, design, develop, make and evaluate your chosen product from a list of themes set by the exam board. Students studying Design Technology will need to provide materials for coursework or contribute towards the cost of components for practical work as you will keep whatever you make.

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

• Controlled Assessment - 50% Students complete an extended Design and Make project
• Written Paper - 50% (1hr 45min paper)

GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Food Preparation and Nutrition brings together Food Technology, Food and Nutrition, Hospitality and Catering in one new course backed by Heston Blumenthal called Food Preparation and Nutrition. It teaches you how to prepare a range of food item from vegetables to meat and fish, including health and safety from an industrial and commercial angle as well as the nutritional elements which underpin our diet of what we eat. You will also learn the skills you will need and a repertoire of new and exciting recipes that you will get to cook and take home and try!

SPECIFICATION LINK: 8585

COURSE INFORMATION: AQA GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition (601/8421/8)

Year 10 is used to build on what we learn at Key Stage 3 and learn new content through some high level recipes, which will stretch and challenge you to produce some amazing dishes! It will give you a strong basis of knowledge as well as making skills and practice folder work, which can then be applied to Coursework, which we start at the end of Year 10 and counts for 50% of your final grade. Food Prep and Nutrition theory is taught through a range of methods including practical work and practical experiments to understand how and why ingredients act that way.

Coursework (NEA) starts at the end of Year 10 and worked on in Year 11. You will have to produce a folder which demonstrates your ability to research, develop, make and evaluate your chosen product from a list of themes set by the exam board. Students studying Design Technology will need to provide ingredients for coursework as you will keep whatever you make. You should expect to cook weekly.

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

Paper 1: Food preparation and nutrition

What's assessed

Theoretical knowledge of food preparation and nutrition from Sections 1 to 5.

How it's assessed

• Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
• 100 marks
• 50% of GCSE

Questions

• Multiple choice questions (20 marks)
• Five questions each with a number of sub questions (80 marks)

Non-exam assessment (NEA)

What's assessed

Task 1: Food investigation (30 marks)

Students' understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients.

Practical investigations are a compulsory element of this NEA task.

Task 2: Food preparation assessment (70 marks)

Students' knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking, presentation of food and application of nutrition related to the chosen task.

Students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes within a single period of no more than three hours, planning in advance how this will be achieved.

How it's assessed

• Task 1: Written or electronic report (1,500–2,000 words) including photographic evidence of the practical investigation.
• Task 2: Written or electronic portfolio including photographic evidence. Photographic evidence of the three final dishes must be included.

GCSE Graphic Communication

During the two-year course, students will study the basic principles of composition, colour, texture, line and techniques in most media through Graphic Design, Advertising, Illustration, Printing, Photography, Interior Design, Typography and Lettering. We use a range of different ways of producing design work, sketching and drawing from observation, to industry-standard software like Photoshop and Illustrator.

SPECIFICATION LINK: 8203

COURSE INFORMATION: AQA GCSE Graphic Communication (601/8088/2)

ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE

Student must complete both components.

Component 1: Portfolio

What's assessed

A portfolio that in total shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. It must include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study.

How it's assessed

• No time limit
• 96 marks
• 60% of GCSE

Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the school/college and moderated by AQA during a visit. Moderation will normally take place in June.

Component 2: Externally set assignment

What's assessed

Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives.

How it's assessed

• Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time
• 96 marks
• 40% of GCSE

Non-exam assessment (NEA) set by AQA; marked by the school/college and moderated by AQA during a visit. Moderation will normally take place in June.