KS4, Year 10 & 11 Design and Technology
In Key Stage 4, pupils are able to study Eduqas Design Technology GCSE and/or OCR Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE.
The aim of both courses is to provide students with the opportunity to combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking to design and make products and systems that meet human needs.
To help all students, including SEND, access GCSE in a manner suitable for their needs, we focus on high quality teaching and the provision of appropriate resources. This includes teacher customised material from the exam boards, structured answers, exemplar material and a major focus on literacy skills to enable decoding of exam questions.
Using carefully planned retrieval questioning, we aim to build student confidence over time and develop understanding as well as retrieval of facts. This will enable students to interpret and link information on a cross curricular basis, especially with mathematics and science.
Where exam arrangements are required, including readers, scribes and word processing, we work closely with relevant departments to ensure this provision is provided across the technology department.
Design and Technology – WJEC Eduqas
This course will prepare learners to become creative and critical thinkers, developing skills to design and deliver prototypes that solve real and relevant problems.
Students will develop and understanding of:
- The concepts of innovation and iterative design
- The process of “explore > create > evaluate”
Students begin their GCSE study of Design and Technology in Year 10 where they will cover the following components:
- Developing a range of practical skills
- Applying design knowledge
- Looking at STEM subjects and their interaction with Design Technology
- Undertaking trips to industries
- Exploring the manufacturing world.
- Investigating and working with smart and modern materials
- Looking at new and upcoming technologies
- Researching and analysing designers old and new.
Assessment
Year 10 is the building ground for Year 11. In Year 11, students will be expected to sit a written exam and complete one task (NEA) set by the exam board.
| Unit 1 | Design and Technology in the 21st Century.
Written examination: 2 hours | External Assessment
50% |
|---|
| Unit 2 | This is internally assessed and consists of a task set by the exam board. Students complete a detailed portfolio and make a prototype of their final design. | Controlled Assessment (NEA)
50% |
Component 1 – Design and Technology in the 21st century written exam accounts for 50% of the total marks in the Eduqas Design Technology GCSE. The two hour exam will consist of a mixture of short answer, structured and extended writing questions.
The paper is divided into two sections.
Section A will assess the core knowledge and understanding. All questions must be answered.
Section B will include questions that will assess in-depth knowledge and understanding. Only ONE question will need to be answered in this section.
Component 2 – The non – examined assessment (NEA) is a design and make task also worth 50% of the marks for the GCSE qualification in Design Technology. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and understanding learned. This is presented in a portfolio of evidence to show the design journey from contextual challenge to finished prototype product.
Food Preparation and Nutrition – OCR
Students develop a wide range of practical skills as well as ICT skills. The course is designed to encourage them to become an independent learner, team worker as well as being a creative thinker.
Students begin their GCSE study of Food Preparation and Nutrition in Year 10 where they will cover the following components:
- Food nutrition and health
- Food provenance and food choice
- Cooking and food preparation
- Skills – preparation and cooking techniques
Skills developed will include:
- Practical food skills
- Knowledge of how nutrition and health are linked
- Knowledge of culture and other factors that help decide our food choices
- Food product design through adapting existing recipe ideas and designing our own ideas
Assessment
Year 10 is the building ground for Year 11. In Year 11, students will be expected to sit a written exam and complete two tasks (NEAs) set by the exam board. Task 1 consists of a scientific report including photographic evidence, whilst task 2 is a portfolio with a timed practical assessment and photographic evidence.
| Unit 1
Written paper 1 hour 30 minutes. | Question format – closed short answer, structured and extended response. | External Assessment
50% |
|---|
| Unit 2 | This is internally assessed and consists of two tasks.
Task 1 involves food investigation looking at the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. (15% of total marks). Task 2 is a food preparation assessment requiring candidates to prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes within a single period of no more than three hours. A portfolio of planning in advance of how this will be achieved is also required. (35% of total marks). | Controlled Assessment
(NEA1 and NEA2) 50% |
