GCSE Drama

GCSE Design and Technology

Details of what the course involves

GCSE Design and Technology enables students to understand and apply iterative design processes through which they explore, create and evaluate a range of outcomes. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of different materials and manufacturing processes in order to design and make, with confidence, prototypes in response to issues, needs, problems and opportunities. Students will learn how to take design risks, helping them to become resourceful, innovative and enterprising citizens. They will develop an awareness of practices from the creative, engineering and manufacturing industries. Through the critique of the outcomes of design and technology activity, both historic and present day, students develop an understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world and an understand that high-quality design and technology is important to the creativity, culture, sustainability, wealth and well-being of the nation and the global community.

How will the course be assessed?

Written exam (50% of GCSE): 2 Hours, 100 marks.

The paper is split into three sections. Section A covers ‘core technical principals’. Section B covers ‘specialist technical principals’. Section C covers ‘designing and making principals’. Questions vary from multiple choice to extended response. The paper will also contain 15% mathematical skills applied in a Design and Technology context. Non-Examined Assessment (NEA – coursework) (50% GCSE): 30-35 hours, 100 marks.

The NEA Task will be internally assessed and externally moderated. It will consist of a single design and make activity which will be chosen from a range of contexts given by the exam board in June of Year 10. This is expected to take 35 hours in total. Students will design and make a 3-dimensional physical prototype supported by an electronic design portfolio of approximately 20 pages. The NEA begins during the Summer Term of Year 10 and will be completed during the Spring Term of Year 11.