Design Technology Key Stage 4

GCSE Product Design (AQA)

At the heart of what we do is the development of new products. In this GCSE course all our learners study how products are designed and manufactured using a wide range of facilities including CAD/CAM. 60% of the marks are based on coursework and 40% on one written examination. Students focus on one of the following areas:

Design and Make

Using wood, metal and plastics to create unique new products, this course is popular with students who enjoy making. 

Graphics

This area concentrates on the application of “image” to produce a wide range of products such as signs, logos, packaging, interior design, architecture.

Electronics

Similar to Design and Make, this course uses electronic components at the heart of the product. New ideas are formed from a state of the art systems approach.

Food Technology – Exam Board O.C.R

This course is designed to allow students to understand and participate in a world of rapidly changing technologies.

Students develop a range of practical cookery skills which then allow them to become autonomous and creative within the world of food.

Students learn about the industrial practices within the food industry and design and develop a marketable food product through their coursework, which counts for 60% of the final grade. The other 40% is the final written exam.

We aim to ensure that students who follow this course feel they are both developing their understanding and practical capabilities in food and nutrition, but are also able to satisfy the examination requirements to gain a good grade at GCSE.

These are a few of the comments about the course from the current year 10 (2007) students. 

Abbie

‘I chose GCSE Food Technology because I like the practical work. We make a wide range of foods such as: Lasagne, pasties, pancakes, chocolate cake. We also went on a trip to a pasty factory, which helped our understanding and was very interesting.’

Dan

‘I chose Food Technology because I like preparing food and eating it! During our course we have made pancakes, choux pastry and lasagne. We also entered into a competition to make a new pasty for the Proper Cornish Pasty company.’

Sarah

‘I chose GCSE Food Technology for years 10 and 11 because I really enjoyed the practical work in year 9.’

Chris

‘I chose this subject so that I could develop my skills in this area in order to become a chef and run my own restaurant or hotel in the future and to become successful.’

Child Development GCSE

This Course is suitable for all abilities as it allows pupils to develop their own strengths through a series of short, focused, resource tasks that cover all areas of the specification content.

Our exam results are always very good – reflecting the interest, enthusiasm and hard work of the pupils.

Read some of their comments:

‘I am glad I have chosen Child Development because I have learnt a lot of valuable information, which I will use when I have left school. It has also been interesting to me to see how a child actually develops. I think if I had the choice to choose my options again, I would still choose Child Development.’ Amy Year 11

‘I chose Child Development because I have always adored children and it's a good experience to have at a young age before I have a child of my own. I wanted to know more about children. I thought it was going to be all about babies but there's much more to it as there's much more to being a Mum than people think.’ Claire Year 10

‘We have taken Child Development because we are interested in working with children for a career when we leave school,for example as a teaching assistant. In the lessons we talk about the stages of a child's life and the parents’ occupations. We find these lessons fun and interesting and the work we do is educational.This subject is good because it will develop your understanding and knowledge of growth and the health of a newborn baby.

You are allowed to contribute to the class discussions and everyone will listen and give you feedback so that you know where you have gone wrong. With the coursework there is no right or wrong grade, as long as you try your hardest it will be accepted. If you are looking to work with children or have a job that involves children in the future, then you should think about taking this subject.’ Melissa and Zoe Year 10