Product Design

To be a highly achieving design technology department that consistently delivers innovative, user-centred, and sustainable product designs. We will achieve this by fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning, while staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

Innovation: To facilitate students who will in the future work towards development of cutting-edge product designs that address unmet market needs and exceed customer expectations.

User-Centricity: To give students opportunities to learn how to use experiences throughout the design process, ensuring that our products they design are intuitive, accessible, and delightful to use.

Sustainability: To integrate sustainable practices into our design philosophy, creating products that minimise environmental impact and promote responsible consumption.

Technological Excellence: Stay abreast of emerging technologies and leverage them to enhance our design capabilities and deliver superior outcomes.

Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where designers, engineers, and other stakeholders work seamlessly together to achieve shared goals. To seek to Invest in the professional growth of our team members, providing opportunities for learning, mentorship, and career advancement.

Exam Board

AQA

Course Title and Syllabus

Product Design

Details of Papers

Assessment

Written Paper

  • Core technical principles
  • Specialist technical principles
  • Designing and making principles

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 2 hours
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE

Section A - Core technical principles (20 marks)

  • Multiple choice
  • Short answers

Section B - Specialist technical principles (30 marks)

  • Short answer 2-5 marks
  • Extended response

Section C - Designing and making principles (50 marks)

Non-exam Assessment (NEA)

What is assessed

Practical application of:

  • Core technical principles
  • Specialist technical principles
  • Designing and making principles

How it's assessed

  • Non-exam assessment (NEA):; 30-35 hours approximately
  • 100 marks
  • 50% of GCSE

Substantial design and make task

Assessment criteria

  • Identifying and investigating design possibilities
  • Producing and design brief and specification
  • Generating design ideas
  • Developing design ideas
  • Realising design ideas

Overview

Year 10

Theory ongoing throughout the year - Focus on Core Section A of the exam

Metals

Papers & Boards

Polymers

Systems

Fibres & Textiles

Timbers

New and emerging technologies

Energy, materials, systems and devices

Materials and their working properties

Theory Ongoing

NEA ( Non-Exam Assessed)

Contextual challenges to be released annually by AQA on 1 June in the year prior to the submission of the NEA.

Year 11

Theory ongoing throughout the year - Designing and making principles

Making principles

Revision

Practice exam questions

NEA continuation

NEA completion

Revision

Structured revision

Public Exams