Design & Technology

Key Stage 3

All resistant materials are taught as appropriate but the main emphasis is naturally placed on metals, plastics and wood products.

The focus in Year 8 is on the attainment of practical skills as it is felt that meaningful design cannot be carried out until a sound background of production knowledge is in place. The groups are split into two on a half yearly rotation. One half follows a wood based project with an emphasis on the acquisition of hand skills, the other half follows a metals based project utilising hand and machine skills and some computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

In Year 9 pupils may opt into the subject and again the groups are split into half yearly rotations. The wood based project requires a large design input into the production of the set topic. The metals based project emphasises further machine skills plus the learning of computer-aided design (CAD) packages.

GCSE

The pupils who opted for this subject in Year 9 may choose to take this subject to GCSE Level. The emphasis in Year 10 is on the Design and realisation of a prototype product using materials and processes appropriate to the required solution. Theory knowledge is also gained ready for a sustainability exam. Both are worth 25% of the overall GCSE.

In Year 11 the pupils design and realise a "High Quality Product". All design processes are expected to be used in the solution to the problem identified. The practical realisation will depend on a successful design being produced. The assessed project is worth 25% of the overall GCSE. There is a Theory & Design exam at the end of the course, again worth 25%. This requires sound knowledge in both practical and theory areas.

AS and A2

Product Design is offered at both AS and A2 Level to suitable interested candidates from both LGS and Loughborough High School who want to follow an engineering related career. Again there is a high coursework content which is very demanding on time and commitment, but the results are extremely rewarding.