Key Stage 4 courses

Having successfully completed the Key Stage 3 course, students can choose one of the following courses to study up to GCSE level:

Design and Technology : Electronic Products

Design and Technology : Resistant Materials

Design and Technology : Graphic Products

Design and Technology : Food Technology

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

This full GCSE course provides opportunities for pupils to develop an awareness of the nature and significant importance of Design and Technology in a rapidly changing society. It enables them to develop their application of knowledge, skills and understanding of an Electronic Product focus within an overall design and make approach.

Coursework

Pupils are involved in up to five practical projects in year 10, which include: sensor and alarm systems, logic, switching and motor control, event timing, counting and numerical display.

Year 11 is devoted entirely to the research, development, planning, making, testing and evaluation of the final electronic product to be submitted to the Examination Board. This represents about 40 hours of work and constitutes 60% of the total marks.

Some of the work involves the use of ICT methods such as :

interactive modelling of circuits, production of printed circuit boards, costing of projects, computer aided designing and manufacturing.

A parallel course of theory accompanies the practical work to reinforce the knowledge and understanding of design, components, industrial applications and technological principles. This also includes the mathematical calculation of values within various circuits using known formulæ. It is therefore recommended that only the more able pupils with a good knowledge of Maths and Physics should opt for this course.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: RESISTANT MATERIALS

This course aims to combine knowledge and understanding of materials, components, systems, products, and health and safety with designing and making materials. During year 10, students will gain experience in working with a variety of materials whilst designing and making at least two minor projects. Theory work will also feature throughout the course, building on their knowledge and understanding.

In year 11, students will be required to design and make one quality product. This will be expected to take around 40 hours to complete. This product will assess their ability to :

Identify a need and define a brief

Research the brief and draw up a specification.

Generate ideas

Development the chosen idea

Plan and make the product

Evaluate and test the finished product.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: GRAPHIC PRODUCTS

This course builds students’ confidence in communicating both ideas and thinking through drawing, using a wide variety of graphic techniques. It is assessed through a major project and an end-of-course examination. The proportion of marks awarded for the major project is 60%, and is completed in Year 11 over a period of 40 hours for the full course and 20 hours for the short course. The major project requires students to identify a problem, either set by the Board or chosen by the individual student, which they then proceed to find solutions for. The methodology involved in this project is the design process. This is broken down into :-

Recognition and description of the problem

Research analysis and specification

Generation of ideas

Development of a solution

Planning and production of an outcome

Evaluation.

The end of course examination lasts 1-1/2 hours and tests the knowledge of graphics and design.

It should be noted that the main difference between the long and the short course is the number of lessons in which it is taught and the hours allocated for completion of the major project. The required syllabus content is also much reduced for the short course.

In both the full and the short course it would be advantageous for students to purchase their own set of drawing equipment, as homework is an important feature of the work done. A good grade in this subject (C and above) would provide a sound foundation for progression into A Level courses in both Design & Technology and Art & Design.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY: FOOD TECHNOLOGY

This is the first part of the new Food Technology course for the present year 10 pupils only.

Autumn term: Nutrition and basic skills e.g. – cake making, pastry, sauces and meat cookery.

Spring term: Mini projects on biscuits.