FACULTY OF DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND ART

Design Technolgy - Graphic Products

Introduction

This course should appeal to pupils who are interested in developing their design, graphic and modelling skills.

Graphic Products focuses on designing and making products that are graphical in content. Projects cover marketing and advertising alongside practical outcomes such as party packs for children, pop-up books, mobile phone promotion, welcome packs for football supporters and cosmetics packaging.

Pupils will identify and solve real problems by designing and making products. The course will develop sketching and drawing techniques, imaginative thinking, creativity and independence. ICT will be used for both designing and making to give a professional quality to work produced. Topics covered will include drawing and presentation techniques, manufacturing processes, designing for different users and clients, and some technical drawing.

All pupils will need to provide themselves with:

• An A3 portfolio
• Basic drawing equipment
• A good pair of compasses
• Coloured pencils
• Black fineline pens
• H and HB pencils

There are 2 tiers of entry for this examination:-

Higher Tier: Grades A* - D
Foundation Tier: Grades C - G

Written Paper: 40% Two papers of 1¼ or 1½ hours each

Coursework 60%: A3 design folder and prototype graphic product

TOTAL 100%

Progression

Graphic Products has proved popular and successful and should appeal to anyone who enjoys developing and presenting ideas, working in graphic materials. It will also help pupils who wish to progress in any career in the design field such as advertising, architecture, product and 3D design, digital media and of course graphic design.

Design Technology - Resistant Materials Technology

Introduction

This course should appeal to pupils who are interested in developing their design and making skills based in the workshop.

Resistant Materials focuses on designing and making products that are made from wood, metal and plastic. Projects cover skills in manufacturing and designing. Pupils then use these skills to develop a prototype for their major project. In the past these projects have included children’s toys and furniture, storage and puzzles.

Pupils will identify and solve real problems by designing and making products. The course will develop practical and presentation skills, designing methods, imaginative thinking, creativity and independence. ICT will be used for both designing and making to give a professional quality to work produced. Topics covered will include materials, industrial and school manufacturing, systems of control, human factors and health and safety.

All pupils will need to provide themselves with:

• An A3 portfolio
• Basic drawing equipment
• A good pair of compasses
• Coloured pencils
• Black fineline pens
• H and HB pencils

There are 2 tiers of entry for this examination:-

Higher Tier: Grades A* - D
Foundation Tier: Grades C - G

Written Paper 40% 2 papers of 1 ¼ or 1 ½ hours each

Coursework 60% A3 design folder and prototype graphic product

TOTAL 100%

Resistant Materials Technology has proved popular and successful and should appeal to anyone who enjoys developing ideas and working out how to make them. It will also help pupils who wish to progress in any career in the design field such as interior design, architecture, product and 3D design and engineering. Pupils who are considering following a vocational course after school, such as carpentry, plumbing or construction will find this course directly relevant.

Design Technology - Systems & Control Technology
Electorinc Products

Introduction

This course should appeal to pupils who are interested in learning the fundamental theory of Electronics.

Electronics Products concentrates in learning the basic theory of Electronics including components and their behaviour, design circuits, materials, techniques, skills, production processes, industrial processes, analysis and evaluation. In addition, pupils will learn and develop their Computer Aided Design (CAD & CAD/CAM) skills through the use of special computer simulation systems designed for Electronics.

In year 10 pupils will develop their knowledge and practical skills such as designing simple electronic circuits, PCB design and making, soldering, casing design and be involved in small practical projects. At the end of Year 10 pupils will start their Major Project (which is their Coursework) and continue in Year 11.

All pupils will need to provide themselves with:

• Basic stationery equipment
• A scientific calculator
• An A3 portfolio (later in the course)

There are 2 tiers of entry for this examination:
Higher tier Grades A* - D
Foundation tier Grades C - G

Written paper 40% One paper of 1½ hours (end of Year 11)

Coursework 60% A3 Design Folder and a fully working practical product.

TOTAL 100%

Electronic Products has been a successful course and should appeal to anyone who has interest in Electronics and enjoys the designing and making of Electronic Products. The course is also appropriate for those who wish to progress to A – level and Degree courses in any Electronics Engineering fields.

Restrictions: This course is not suitable for everybody because it contains a lot of work on the theory of Electronics and it requires a good level of Mathematics and Science. If you choose this course we will check your ability and understanding of Maths and Science to see if you are suitable to apply for it.

Design Technology - Woodworking (Furniture Making)
Level 1 Certificate In Basic Construction Skills

Introduction

This course should appeal to pupils who wish to follow a vocational, practical course and enjoy making out of wood in the workshop. This course provides basic training in construction skills for those pupils who wish to pursue a career in the construction industry.

The course is an introduction to the necessary skills and focuses on learning how to make different wood joints and construction methods and apply this to make pieces of furniture.

There are 10 modules that make up the course; 8 different wood joints, a piece of furniture and a health and safety test. Each piece of work is assessed by the school and an external examiner. If successful a certificate is issued by City and Guilds.

Pupils need to learn how to make a range of different wood joints and to follow drawings provided by City and Guilds. Lessons will be practical based with a small amount of written work focusing on health and safety in preparation for the on-line test. Practical work has to be very accurately made and well finished to pass the course.

At the end of the course the pupil will decide which is the best piece of furniture they have made and use this as their exam piece.

Assessment

It is possible to continue studying this course at college at Level 2. It could lead directly into employment or apprenticeship with a joinery company. You could use this course to help you get into the building industry.

Food Technology - Catering

Introduction

Catering is designed for candidates to extend and apply their skills and knowledge of the catering industry. It will provide an opportunity for pupils to be introduced to career opportunities within catering and to prepare for further study.

Pupils will study the Catering Industry, Nutrition and Menu Planning, Food Production and Technological Developments.

They will be given the opportunity to sit a Food Hygiene exam in Year 10, which will lead to a further qualification of a “Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene” examined by The Royal Institute of Public Health.

• Theory paper 2 hours 40% Year 11
• 2 practical assessments 15% Year 10 and 25% Year 11
  

• Work experience report (8 x A4 paper or 3,000 words ) 20% Year 11
  

or

Progression

Catering GCSE will be useful for anyone who wants to consider a career in the Food and Catering industry, eg as a chef in a restaurant, canteen, hotel and tourism, etc. This qualification supports progression into further education such as GNVQ, Advanced VCE, BTEC, etc.

Art and Design

Introduction

Taking a GCSE in Art can be a very rewarding experience and aims to:

• Develop an understanding of the nature of creative and visual thinking and the appropriate skills for creative thought and action.
• To enable the pupils to make effective responses.
• Encourage and develop experience in the use of materials.
• Provide the experience by which pupils discover where their talents and interests lie.
• Enable candidates to relate their own work to that of other artists and designers.
• Develop an understanding of cultural change and diversity in the Arts.

Topics Studied

Pupils will develop skills, knowledge, and understanding through a series of projects that last approximately one term each. Initially these are tightly structured to enable you to learn specific skills and teach you how to go about developing ideas. However, as the course develops, projects become more open ended - you get to choose how and what to do! You will use a broad range of two and three-dimensional media, from paint and batik through to clay and wire. You will use traditional and contemporary techniques, for example you will try digital photography and image manipulation alongside traditional print making such as lino. From this you will find what you like and are good at, and what you want to develop to a more sophisticated level.

Pupils will be expected to do independent study for their projects at home and will receive one hour of homework per week. Tasks set could vary from a pencil drawing, through to developing ideas for a sculpture that you are making in class. You will also learn how to analyse the work of other artists to help inspire what you are making. You do not have to write essays but are expected to be able to provide detailed notes and annotations. You do need to provide a high level of commitment to be successful on this course, but we frequently find that our problem is getting pupils to stop working at the end of lessons!

The Terminal Examination, which lasts for ten hours over two days, counts for 40% of the final mark. Most pupils really enjoy this as it provides the opportunity to produce a really good piece of art. The remainder [60%] of the marks come from coursework. It is assessed internally at the end of each theme/project and externally moderated at the end of the course.

Progression