Creative Arts & Technology Faculties
- Art & Design GCSE
- GCSE Home Economics - Food & Nutrition
- Home Economics - Child Development
- GCSE Home Economics - Textiles
- GCSE Design and Technology with either Graphic Products or Resistant Material Technology
- Vocational GCSE in Engineering (Double Award)
GCSE Art & Design
The GCSE course in an interesting and varied one - and includes Fine Art, Drawing and Painting, Graphics and Art History.
Art and Design should enrich the lives of the students and a major contribution is that of arousing interest in their immediate environment - and in encouraging responses to it through drawing and painting.
Design influences the lives of all as individuals, and as members of the community, as consumers and as subjects of decisions affecting the environment.
The Design Activity will involve Illustration, Letterform, Advertising, Printmaking, Computer Graphics, Photography, Textiles.
Students are also actively encouraged to study the work of other artists and designers, past and present.
Career Opportunities:
Fashion Designers, Art Therapist in Hospitals, Interior Designers, Lay-out Artists, Architects, Fashion Journalist, Teachers, Lecturers, Theatrical Costume Designers, Advertising Agency Designers, Museum Work.
GCSE Home Economics - Food & Nutrition
The course includes a study of food in relation to current dietary theories and the effects of modern technology on food preparation.
The course also involves practical work, where pupils learn the skills needed to prepare, cook and serve a wide variety of sweet and savoury dishes for individuals and family groups.
Content of Syllabus
- Unit 1 Food and Health - Food choice, nutrient provision, nutritional needs of individuals, energy balance, dietary guidelines for health.
- Unit 2 Characteristics and Properties of Food - analysing food functions, food and the senses, menu planning, developing and modifying recipes.
- Unit 3 Food Quality - Food spoilage, preservation, additives, health, safety and hygiene, risk assessment, process, manufacture and storage.
- Unit 4 Food and Technology - Equipment and resource management, new food products, marketing technology, packaging and labelling.
Summary of Assessment
Coursework 30% one short practical task to include investigation and making. This will be internally assessed and externally moderated.
Board Prescribed Task 40% - one task set by the Board and carried out in class time to include a supportive investigational work and practical outcome.
Theory Paper 30% a single 1½ hour paper All questions compulsory
This course provides a suitable basis for further study at 16+ offering progression on to academic and a variety of vocational courses including GNVQ Manufacturing/Health and Social Care/Leisure and Tourism.
Some careers for which GCSE Home Economics Food and Nutrition would be useful include:- food technologist, environmental health, hospitality and catering (including chef, waiter/waitress, hotel management etc.) food scientist, dietician, teaching, trading standards officer etc.
Home Economics - Child Development
The course is designed to enable candidates to acquire appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding of the development and care of children from conception to the age of five years and will enable candidates to develop their design and technological capability. The subject content promotes an understanding of the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of the child which is interlinked through the study of the family, community and the responsibilities of parenthood.
Syllabus Content
- Unit 1 Social Background and Development - the family and the child, responsibilities and preparation for parenthood, the family and the child within the community, social development of the child, emotional development of the child.
- Unit 2 Food and Health - principles of a healthy diet, dietary aims and goals, special dietary needs, food safety.
- Unit 3 Physical Development - preparation for pregnancy, birth of the baby and post-natal care, physical needs of the child, physical development of the child.
- Unit 4 Intellectual Development - how children learn, learning through play, factors affecting learning.
Summary of Assessment
Coursework 40% A Child Study This will be internally assessed and externally moderated
Board Prescribed Task 30% - one task set by the board and carried out in class time to include supportive investigational work and practical outcome. The written work will be externally assessed.
Theory 30% one 11/2 hours. All questions compulsory
Some careers for which GCSE Child Development would be useful include:- teaching, nursing, social work, child minding, nannying, psychology etc.
GCSE Home Economics - Textiles
This course is interesting and varied, covering all aspects of textiles and fashion. The course involves a great deal of practical work. Pupils will experiment with a wide range of fabric decorating techniques and will learn how to design and make clothes and soft furnishings.
Pupils have to make either a garment such as a dress, skirt etc and a soft furnishing item or bag.
Summary of Assessment
Coursework 30% - one short practical task to include investigation and making. This will be internally assessed and moderated externally.
Board prescribed task 40% - one task is set by the board and carried out in class time – it will include an item or a supportive folio.
Theory – 30% - a single 1½ hour exam paper.
Further Education
A level Textiles, Art Foundation Course, BA (Hons) Fashion or Textiles Design.
Career Opportunities
Fashion Designer, Fashion Journalism, Theatrical Costume Designer, Interior Designer, Fabric Designer.
GCSE Design and Technology with either Graphic Products or Resistant Material Technology
Each of these courses is about problem solving, designing, making and evaluating products. They require imagination and knowledge of materials, techniques and technologies. Each course is an extension of some aspects of work done in K.S.3 Design and Technology.
The problem solving skills gained through these courses would be valuable to all pupils since they are lifeskills. In addition any pupil intending going into the industrial world would find these skills valuable at any level. Many pupils not wishing to pursue higher education have obtained apprenticeships with these GCSEs.
There are many possible progressions from these courses e.g. AS and 'A' level Design and Technology (Year 12/13) which is recognised as an entrance qualification to many courses at Colleges or Universities; GNVQ in Business Studies/I.T./ Manufacturing or Engineering and then on to a Degree course in Graphic Design, Product Design or a branch of manufacturing/engineering.
Careers related to these courses include Graphic Design, Product Design, Manufacturing, Engineering, Retailing, Advertising and there are many other career opportunities that come under the broad heading of Design and Technology.
Subjects that have natural links with Design and Technology are Art, Business Studies, Geography, Information Technology and Physics.
Design and Technology Core:
- Year 10: Several small design and make tasks requiring articles of quality, theory, homeworks and learning new practical/graphic skills.
- Year 11: Coursework 60%: A design and make project of your own choice which will be carried out in Year 11.
Examination 40%: 2 Papers:
- Paper 1 = ½ hour. Common to both subjects 10%
- Paper 2 = 1.5 hours. On the focus area i.e. either Graphics, or Resistant Materials 30%
a) Graphic Products:
Students taking this option will have the opportunity to tackle the type of design problems that would be resolved by a Graphic Designer or Graphic Artist.
After learning the drawing and manufacturing skills in year ten, students will be free to concentrate on their major project, which will count for 60% of their final grade. Both manual techniques and Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM) will be taught and used.
Subjects for this project could range from promoting an up and coming new band, designing the advertising campaign for a range of cosmetics, launching a new magazine for teenagers to publicizing a major sporting event. The options are only limited by your imagination.
One person in every eight that are employed in this country works in the Graphic Design, printing, publishing and packaging industries and there are many college and university courses available on which to gain higher qualifications.
British Graphic Designers are highly regarded and much sought after throughout the world.
b) Resistant Material Technology
The work done in this option will be biased towards Designing and making innovative, high quality products using a range of materials. The candidates will be expected to work with wood, metal, plastic and any other material that is suitable for solving the problems encountered. Work done using CAD/CAM is also expected.
Vocational GCSE in Engineering (Double Award)
This course has been designed for students who want a broad background in engineering in order to choose a direction to progress to in further and higher education or an apprenticeship. It is ideal for students with a good science and mathematics background.
It is a Double Award and students will be timetabled for ten periods a fortnight and awarded grades between A*A* and GG on successful completion of the course.
The subject will be delivered through theory lessons and project work. Students will manufacture electrical, electronic, mechanical and electro mechanical products from working drawings and to their own designs. Students will be expected to complete theory homework; research and some design work at home in their own time.
Many aspects of the course will be covered by visits to local industries to study the impact of technology on the design and manufacture of different products across a range of manufacturing and engineering sectors.
Candidates will study the following three units:
- Design and graphical communication.
- Engineered products.
- Application of technology.
Units 1 and 2 will be internally moderated and completed by successfully fulfilling the criteria for the project work. All project work, in years 10 and 11, is marked and goes towards the final grade. Unit 3 will be externally assessed through an examination at the end of year 11.
Before choosing this course it is important that you speak to either Mr Stephenson or Mr A Edwards to ensure you understand what will be required to successfully complete the course.