Minimum Grade Requirement:
Grade 6 in Maths and/or Grade 6 in Technology
Assessment:
50% NEA, carried out in Year 13.
2 External examinations at the end of Year 13, worth 50%
Course Overview
A level Product Design is an advanced course for those interested in furthering their knowledge and experience of the worlds of design, manufacturing, production and creativity. The course will not only give students the practical knowledge they need to design for a commercial market, but also will develop their problem solving and practical capabilities.
Year 12
Time in Year 12 is split between enhancing and developing practical skills through focussed practical tasks and mini projects, and improving subject knowledge with one theoretical lesson per week. The theoretical lesson will also address examination techniques and the additional mathematical content of the new A level.
Year 13
Time in Year 13 is predominantly spent on the NEA, (non-Examination Assessment). This extended piece of coursework gives every student the chance to solve a real market issue by designing and manufacturing a solution to a problem they have identified as having commercial potential.
The first examination at the end of Year 13 examines technical principles and is 2 hours and 30 minutes. It is worth 30% of the final A level. The second examination contains questions on Designing and making principles and is 1 hour and 30 minutes. This examination contributes 20% of the final A level grade.
The course is an excellent extension to GCSE Technology, either the legacy specifications Resistant Materials or Graphic Products. It's also the perfect introduction for those interested in specialising in the subject at university, whether it be in the field of engineering, graphics or the many and varied design degrees; fashion or industrial. Whoever takes this course will be someone who can solve problems in a practical way and have a flair for creativity.
Candidates whose work is of sufficient standard are encouraged to enter for several design and technology invention competitions. Over £7,000 has been won by our students in recent years. Our students have won all expenses-paid visits to the Audi factory in Germany as well as exhibiting their ideas in nationally recognised exhibitions. We are also an Arkwright Scholar school, entering students in Year 11 for an Arkwright Award and usually have at least one Arkwright scholar annually.
Future Opportunities
Product design is at the heart of all design, growth and innovation around the globe. The language of design is an international one and UK universities are well known and highly respected when it comes to producing the best designers and engineers. Our students regularly feed into this system with ease. Many of our Product Design students go on to take design based courses at university. We are particularly pleased with the number of students who are offered places at Loughborough University and Brunel University London.
Complementary Subjects
Art and Design, Further Maths, Maths and Physics.