GCSE subjects in Design and Technology

As we are a Specialist Technology School all students at Beaufort School will take a key stage 4 course In Design and Technology. The department offers a range of GCSE courses and options to ensure students have the opportunity to work in the area that best suits them. Your child will have been guided at the end of Year 8 as to which option is best for them based on their progress and interests. The options are as follows-

Catering and  Food Technology

Graphic Design

Resistant Materials Technology – Designing and making in Woods, Metals and Plastics

Textiles

During Year 9 your child will have continued to develop skills in one of these areas that will support them when they start their GCSE in September 2009.

 If your child shows a particular aptitude and enthusiasm for Design and Technology they could have the opportunity to sit a double GCSE in Hospitality and Catering or Product Design.  These courses enable your child to spend twice the normal amount of time in D&T by taking up an option block.

GCSE Graphic Design

The Graphics GCSE course is a two year course which will give students the opportunity to learn, improve and practise their graphics communication skills.  The ability to communicate and present ideas clearly and in a variety of styles is basic to all designing and manufacture.

Students will be expected to complete a number of short graphics projects.   Much of the graphics will use software, such as 2DDesign, but students will also become competent in pencil and ruler graphics.

The assessment is by coursework, 60%, and exam, 40%.  Unit1 and unit3 are both twenty hour coursework tasks.  This coursework is chosen from a range of tasks set by the exam board and will be completed in school over several months. These tasks will demonstrate a students designing and making abilities and a portfolio of research material and design ideas will also need to be produced. Examples of the sort of tasks set might include a promotional item, the development of a sign or display, graphics work based on travel or tourism or on signs and display materials. Unit2 and unit4 are both

exams. 

GCSE Resistant Materials

This GCSE is divided into 4 units of which 2 are coursework tasks

completed within school and 2 are exams. These units will be completed throughout Year 10 and Year 11. In this course students will be taught about design, given the opportunity to develop and model a range of creative design ideas and use ICT to support their learning. Students will work with woods, metals and plastics to produce a range of high quality products that could include storage units, lights, candlestick holders or jewellery. The exams will test the students understanding materials and practical processes and how to work safely and sustainably.

This course is an exciting opportunity to not only be creative but also work in a practical environment with a wide range of tools and processes using modern and more traditional technologies

GCSE Textiles

GCSE Textiles is for those students who wish to develop their skills in mainly fashion, interior design, accessories or textile design. This course offers opportunities for students to be creative, innovative and experiment with a wide range of textile techniques. The course is divided into 4 units of which 2 are coursework tasks using the design and make process and 2 are exams. These units will be completed during year 10 and year 11 and are as follows –

Unit 1 = coursework 30%

Students select a theme and carry out a design and make task.

Unit 2 = exam 20%

Students will carry out an exam using sustainability as the theme.

Unit 3 = coursework 30%

Students make a marketable product using the design and make process.

Unit 4 = exam 20%

5 questions that focus on aspects of designing and making within textiles.

GCSE Catering

This course is aimed at those students who wish to follow a career in the catering industry or those who just enjoy working with food. It offers a sound basis for future catering courses at college at the end of Year 11.The students will study:

• The industry- food and drink
• Job roles, employment opportunities and relevant training
• Health, safety and hygiene
• Food preparation, cooking and presentation
• Nutrition and menu planning
• Costing and portion control                          
• Specialist equipment
• Communication and record keeping
• Environmental considerations.

The emphasis is on practical work and students are expected to participate in all practical sessions. All basic ingredients will be provided.

The final grade at GCSE is gained by: 

60% coursework.   This consists of: Unit 1: Catering skills related to food preparation  

and service.

Controlled Task- two practical tasks selected from a bank of six WJEC set tasks.

40% written paper. This consists of Unit 2: Catering, food and the customer.

One 1 ¼ hour written exam.