Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
Wakefield
Technical Information
A-level
A-level
Course Title
Unit
Code
Awarding
Body
Design and
Technology:
Product Design
7552
AQA
A-level Examinations:
Name
Method of
Assessment
Marks
Written Paper 1:
Technical Principles
2 hours 30 mins
30%
Written Paper 2:
Designing and Making
Principles
1 hour 30 mins
20%
Non Examination
Assessment (NEA)
c. 45 hours
50%
QEGS Senior School
(Boys 11-18 years)
154 Northgate
Wakefield WF1 3QX
Telephone: 01924 373 943
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @QEGSYorkshire
www.wgsf.org.uk
Course Guide
A-level Design
and Technology
Product Design
Design and Technology
– Product Design
Background Knowledge
and Qualifications
To embark on this course students
will normally have gained grade
B or better in GCSE Design
Technology. The A-level specification
also accommodates those who
demonstrated good ability in Design
Technology up to Year 9 but did not
take the GCSE. Such cases would be
dealt with on an individual basis.
Course Description
Product Design requires students
to engage in both practical and
theoretical study. The course
requires students to cover design
and technology skills and knowledge
and has been separated into:
– Core technical principles
– Core designing and making
principles
– Additional specialist knowledge
Core technical principles covers
materials and their applications,
the requirements for design,
development and manufacture,
design communication, digital design
and manufacture, efficient use of
materials, health and safety, feasibility
studies, design for manufacture,
maintenance and repair, protecting
designs and intellectual property
and enterprise and marketing in
the development of products.
Core designing and making principles
covers design methods and processes,
design theory, how technology and
cultural changes can impact on the
work of designers, design processes,
critical analysis and evaluation,
selecting appropriate specialist tools,
techniques and processes, accuracy
in design and manufacture, how to
evaluate products, taking into account
the views of potential users, responsible
design, approaches to project
management, design for manufacture
and national and international
standards in product design.
Additional specialist knowledge
covers the characteristics and
working properties of materials,
performance characteristics of
materials, the use of adhesives and
fixings, the use of surface finishes
and coatings, forming, redistribution
and addition processes, industrial
and commercial practice and modern
manufacturing systems.
Students must also demonstrate
maths and science skills.
This knowledge is assessed by the
means of two examinations.
Non Examination Assessment (NEA)
requires students to undertake a
single substantial design and make
task accompanied by a portfolio
consisting of approximately 45 pages
including photographic evidence of
the practical work as well as the final
outcome. The coursework provides
evidence of the practical application
of core technical principles and core
designing and making principles.
The choice of project is by discussion
and agreement with the teacher.
It is a very good idea to have the
project for a particular client,
though this is not essential.
Four criteria are used for assessment,
Exploration, Designing, Making and
Analysis and Evaluation and these are
assessed throughout the coursework.
The Exploration stage leads to a clear
and precise design brief and following
detailed research from a wide range
of sources a comprehensive,
well-reasoned and fully explained
design specification
is formulated.
The Designing section needs to show
imaginative and innovative ideas
developed, demonstrating both
creativity and consideration of the
functional requirements of the
proposed design solution. A range
of high quality annotated graphics
methods should be used to effectively
communicate the development of the
solution. A comprehensive and fully
detailed plan of making needs to be
produced including relevant quality
control checks.
Making should be carried out with a
high degree of precision and accuracy
with appropriate techniques, including
CAM where required. The outcome
should satisfy all major points of the
specification and be fully functioning.
Analysis and Evaluation should
be evidenced throughout the design
and making process and a detailed
and comprehensive testing strategy
applied throughout, with results
used to inform the design and refine
any modifications to the design.
A well-reasoned critical analysis of
the final outcome linking to the
design brief and specification will
also be produced. Scope for
improvements and further
development, including for batch
or mass production, also needs
to be shown.
Use of Course
and Qualifications
Design Technology is a good
preparation for entry onto most
university degree courses.
Typically our students fall into
three categories:
– Those who enjoy the subject
and feel that they can achieve
a good final grade
– Those wishing to take up
engineering as a career
– Those wishing to become designers
In addition to the various aspects
of engineering and design, previous
students have gone on to study
subjects such as Computer Science,
Business Studies, Management,
Dentistry, Law, Architecture, Surveying,
Estate Management, Sports Science,
Economics, Geography, Agriculture,
Psychology and Music.
Student Testimonial
Year 13 Student
Proposed University
Course: Mechanical
Engineering
I have always had a passion for DT
and I believe the skills learnt from
studying this subject give a solid
base for engineering and design.
DT not only develops design and
problem solving skills in a creative
way but also enables students to
develop their range of ideas to a
manufactured solution – a greatly
rewarding process that builds
research, planning and time
management skills – invaluable
attributes for the future.