Design Technology
Course Outline
A-level Design and Technology: Product Design requires students to engage in both practical and theoretical study. All students will sit an exam, which is worth 50% of their overall grade and submit their non-exam assessment, which consists of their practical coursework.
Exam Board: AQA
Entry Requirements
Grade 5 GCSE DT/Product Design. We may consider students who have not completed GCSE DT if they have evidence of work, e.g. GCSE artwork or a portfolio of work at Grade 5 standard.
Programme of Study
Theory
Over the two-year course, students will study the theory specification, which covers both technical principles and design and making principles. Practical activities in Years 12 and 13 will be planned to coincide with the theory content to reinforce this knowledge. For example, the technical theory knowledge on wood will be taught alongside a practical flat pack furniture course in Year 12. This project will also reinforce CAD/CAM and modern manufacturing theory knowledge. At the end of the two-year course, students will sit two exams: one on technical principles and one on design and making principles.
Non-exam assessment
In Year 12, students will complete a mini-NEA to help build their practical skills. This project will be based on a client brief from IKEA, where they will be designing and manufacturing flat-pack furniture to scale. This project will be guided to help students learn new manufacturing techniques, alongside helping them improve their portfolio presentation skills.
In the second half of Year 12, students will begin their NEA on a design context of their choosing. With reference to the context, students will develop a specific brief that meets the needs of a user, client or market. Students must produce a final prototype based on the design brief they have developed, along with a written or digital design folder or portfolio.
Examples of previous NEA prototypes have included furniture design, jewellery design, product design and architecture. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore different areas of design while also building up a design portfolio.
Progression Opportunities
A Level Design and Technology opens up a range of different further education options, including apprenticeships, university or college. If you are considering college or university, you could study courses such as Product Design, Interior Design, Engineering, Architecture and Architecture Technology. Whether you go down the university route or the apprenticeship route, there is a wide variety of job opportunities available.