Page 14 - Pathways Booklet 2023 latest

GCSE Design and Technology

The study of Design and Technology seeks to prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in
an increasingly technological world. It helps students to be aware of, and learn from, wider influences on
design and technology, including historical, social or cultural, environmental and economic factors.

This course builds on everything you have learned across the workshop-based Design and Technology
subjects in Key Stage 3 and will help you to develop your knowledge and abilities as a designer and
manufacturer. Design and Technology is a subject where you apply the knowledge and skills you gain across
the curriculum and put them to a practical use.

The creative industries in the UK currently employ around two million people and they contribute around
two billion pounds to the UK economy each year. Jobs as diverse as motor vehicle design, film and set design,
the exhibition industry, architecture, engineering, game design and construction and manufacturing all rely
on a sound knowledge and understanding of materials, technology and design communication. The movie
industry, TV and advertising, product design, carpentry, plumbing, electrical installation and fashion design
all rely on the skills we teach here. Give yourself an advantage and learn about managing your impact on
our environment, new and emerging technologies and come and play with the CAD-CAM stuff!

The course is organised into two parts; an exam at the end of Year 11 and a piece of non-examined
assessment (coursework). These two parts are worth 50% of the marks each. You will spend Year 10 learning
the core theory content and specialising in one material area, along with developing your designing and
making skills through a series of projects. You will spend most of Year 11 applying that knowledge and
experience to the design challenge that the exam board will set during the summer. You will then sit the
final exam in June of Year 11.

The exam is a 1 hour and 45-minute paper, with 2 sections. Section 1 will cover the core subject knowledge
and Section 2 will focus on a specific material area.

The subject content for Design and Technology is varied and interesting and includes sections on new and
emerging technologies, developments in modern and smart materials, the functions of mechanical devices,
electronic components and the study of designers and their work, such as Alessi, Apple and the architect
Zaha Hadid.

This course will prepare you for post-16 learning in a variety of subject areas and would be an ideal
preparation for a career in design, manufacturing, engineering, architecture or other D&T related fields.

Examination Board: EDEXCEL Syllabus Code: 1DT0

Head of Department: Mr M Button mbutton@emmausmac.com