STEM - Design Technology
Key stage 3
Students will study three different topics: product design; graphic design and food & nutrition. Students develop a flat pack egg holder, a souvenir keyring and investigate, design and develop healthy snacks.
Students will study three different topics: product design; graphic design; systems and control and food & nutrition. Students will create chocolate moulds, cable winders, music players and investigate healthy food choices.
Students will study three different topics: product design; graphic design; systems and control and food & nutrition. Students will have the opportunity to develop their own tea lights, design their own animal enclosures, create their own 'Knight Rider-esque' system and come up with their own healthy meals.
Key stage 4
Students will be required to study the core technical principles, specialist technical principles and design and making principles. Students will then be assessed on the application of these skills through a non-examined assessment (NEA).
Within the NEA students will be required to identify and investigate design possibilities, produce design briefs and specification, generate design ideas, develop these ideas, realise these through practical application of the principles they have studied and evaluate the final design.
Engineering
Engineering is a large and growing sector of employment in our country, with almost half a million people working as engineers in the UK and millions more worldwide. It is an interesting and well-paid industry, with opportunities across the globe in a wide range of disciplines. Our aim is to give students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that they can take forward into an engineering career - either as an apprentice, or later on at degree level. We achieve this by giving them hands-on experience of workshop practice, Computer-Aided Manufacture/Design and real-life design and projects. We also encourage awareness of the impact of design on the environment by looking at the sustainability of materials in the design world.
Assessment of GCSE Engineering
Question paper: externally assessed
Sections 1 to 6 from the subject content.
Though the "practical engineering skills" section will predominantly be assessed through the NEA (Non-Examination Assessment), some questions in the written exam will relate to practical contexts and students will need to apply their understanding within these contexts.
Written exam: 2 hours / 120 marks / 60% of GCSE
Questions:
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Multiple choice questions assessing breadth of knowledge
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Short answer questions assessing in-depth knowledge, including calculations
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Multiple choice questions related to the application of practical engineering skills
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Extended response to questions, drawing together elements of the specification
NEA:
Application of skill, knowledge and understanding in a practical context
Analysis and evaluation of evidence
A brief set by AQA is released on 1 June in the first year of study (Year 10)
80 marks / 40% of GCSE
Questions:
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Engineering drawings or schematics to communicate a solution to the brief
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Engineering product that solves a problem
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