Garth Hill College - KS4 Options Handbook 2024 - Flipbook - Page 19
Design and Technology GCSE
Head of Department: Mr B Turnham
Course Outline
The Design and Technology GCSE is divided into two GCSE options:
1. GCSE Design & Technology
2. GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
The Design and Technology GCSE requires pupils to have a basic understanding of all areas covered at key
stage 3 (excluding Food) covering the following materials: woods, metals, plastics, papers and boards, manmade and natural fabrics and smart/modern materials.
It will also cover a range of core theory areas such as energy production, sustainability, new and emerging
technologies, mechanisms and electronic systems.
Pupils ‘specialise’ in a chosen material for a section of the final exam and for their non-exam assessment
(coursework project).
In nearly all cases, students will continue to study the Design and Technology discipline studied in year 9:
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D&T – Timber based Materials
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D&T – Textile based Materials
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D&T – Metal based Materials
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D&T – Paper & Board Materials
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Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE course focuses solely on food and the science behind food.
Courses are split 50% examined content and 50% non-exam assessment (a coursework project is carried out
in year 11 – pupils will be required to attend period 5 lessons).
All employers and further education establishments recognise all the areas of study as being equal in status
and validity. The common core of all Design and Technology courses allows pupils to go on to study at ALevel.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – GCSE
Subject Leader: Mr B Turnham
Board and Specification: EDEXCEL (1DT0)
Assessment: Written exam – 50% of GCSE (1 hour 45 mins)
•
Section A – Core technical principles (40% of exam - 40 marks)
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•
This section contains a mixture of different question styles, including open-response,
graphical, calculation and extended-open-response questions. There will be 10 marks of
calculation questions in Section A.
Section B – Material categories (60% of exam 60 marks)
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This section contains a mixture of different question styles, including open-response,
graphical, calculation and extended-open-response questions. There will be 5 marks of
calculation questions in Section B.
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This section focuses solely on the material that matches your option choice.
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Non-exam assessment – 50% of GCSE
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Non-exam assessment (NEA): 30–35 hours approx. (100 marks)
KEY STAGE 4 OPTIONS
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