Creative Arts & Technology Faculties
- GCSE Art & Design
- GCSE Home Economics - Catering
- GCSE 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)
- City & Guilds - Computer Aided Design - CAD
- AS/A Level Product Design
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 - Catering
Teacher: Miss H. Thelwell
This GCSE course has been designed to give pupils an introduction to the catering industry. It concentrates on the main areas of food production and food service for institutions and hospitality outlets such as restaurants, hospitals and canteens. it is a varied and interesting course for pupils who enjoy cooking or wish to persue a career in catering. Much of the work is of a practical nature and pupils make individual dishes, batch production items and occasionally, as a group exercise cater for school functions. As part of the coursework requirement students must complete at least one week of work experience within a catering establishment.
Assessment Summary:
* A theory paper 40%
* Two practical assignments 40%
* A project based on work experience in catering 20%
Home Economics - Child Development
Teachers: Miss T. Lambert
It is often stated that children are our future, this is what studying early childhood (0-5 years) such a fascinating, challenging and important area of study. This diverse course provides pupils with the opportunity to study the value of the family and relationships. Wider aspects such as pregnancy, birth and parenthood are also covered.A major element of the course is the child study, where each student carries out an in depth observation of a child of their choice. It leads onto a number of degree course namely BSc (Econ) in early childhood studies at Swansea University. Students interested in careers with children including teaching, social work or nursing would find this course particularly rewarding and valuable.
Assessment of this course is as follows:
Course work (Child Study) - 40% - A child is observed once a week over ten weeks.
Board Prescribed Task - 30% - A design and make task set by WJEC
Examination - 30% - one theory paper 1hr 30 mins in length
GCSE Home Economics - Textiles
Teacher: Mrs L. Thompson
The course will develop pupils' strengths and interests in all aspects of textile design.The work will be based on a series of practical projects, which deal with textile design in the context of;
* Interior Design
* Theatrical Design
* Fashion Design.
* Commercial Design
Assessment of this particular focus area is as follows:
* CAT Coursework 60%
* Design Folio
* Practical
* Examination
* Focus Area Paper40%
There is also a natural progression for successful candidates to study AS/A2 level product design and in turn, any aspect of textile fashion design in higher education.
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:
Teacher: Ms C. Crook
Through this medium you will have the opportunity to experience and understand the importance of graphics in relation to design. this experience will involve considering the role of the client, designer, manager and user.You will be required to demonstrate your ability to work in both two and three dimensions using computer graphics, modeling, interior design techniques, rendering, card engineering, and many more techniques to present your final solutions.
Assessment of this particular focus area is as follows:
* Coursework 60%
* Design Folio
* Practical
* Examination
* Focus Area Paper 30%
b) Resistant Material Technology
Teachers: Mr M. Evans, Mr. A. Edwards, Mr C. JenkinsThis course will allow development of your design capability and manufacturing of skills, by using state of the art CAD/CAM facilities making use of the Laser Cutter.
* You will use a design centered approach to solve problems and make solutions
* You will be encouraged to relate your design solutions to real life situations
* You can choose from a wide range of materials
* You will need to be creative, experimental and innovative
* You will need to consider the business and economic factors involved
Assessment of this particular focus area is as follows;
* Coursework 60%
* Design Folio
* Practical
* Examination
* Focus Area Paper 40%
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.
City & Guilds Computer Aided Design - CAD
City & Guilds Computer Aided Design is a vocational course set up for pupils to experience the skills required to achieve either a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification.
The course requirements are to sit 2 board set assignments, each requiring a pass. To go with the assignments, an ‘Online’ exam is sat where pupils demonstrate the theoretical knowledge required to use CAD in practice.
Grades awarded are pass or fail, but a pass is required in all aspects to achieve the completed level. All pupils should aim for a pass in Level 1 by the end of the course in Year 11.
AS/A Level Product Design
Course Structure A/S
Sept-Oct ½ term: small tasks/skills building exercises
-
Drawing skills; 3d isometric, perspective, exploded drawings
- Studying a designer gathering information produce a display and feeding back to rest
Designers to study: -
James Dyson
Ross Lovegrove
Vivien Westwood
Sir Norman Foster
Jonathan Ive
Camilla Diedrich
Julian MacDonald
Philippe Starck
- Analysis of flat pack furniture instructions- produce their own for a product
- Structure of folders at A/S and A level: -
What’s required? Developing a sketch book/weekly action plan made
- Theory topics required for the year established: Theory once a week (1hour)
- Given options for briefs, choose and analyse brief, aims & objectives of project written
Use sketch book to research chosen field / formalise important aspects in design folder
Over ½ term:write out their specification for project, return with clear intentions of what they will do and aim to manufacture
Oct-Dec: design phase of major project:- Use sketch books/ gather information/ use specification/ develop a design
Over Christmas: Have a developed idea/ set a cutting list/ initial plan for manufacture/ source materials
Jan-Feb ½ term: Finalise idea/ Set manufacturing time frame/ begin practical before ½ term
Feb-Easter: Practical completed/ Evaluation report finished/Final amended plan complete
Projects to be handed in week before Easter for assessment
Topics and theory notes summarised to revise for Easter
Easter break:
Pupils to revise for upcoming exams/ use designer research/theory list as reference
April-May: Folders returned for 2 week only to amend/ Revision classes in prep for exam