James Brindley School - A Bridge For Learning

    Subjects

    Resistant Materials

    · Resistant Materials Technology GCSE exam in 2018 Specification code: 4560 - AQA

    Design and Technology/GCSE Exams from: June 2019/Specification code: 8552 - Edexcel

     

     Autumn Year 10

    Introduction to Resistant Materials, processes and tools and machinery.

    Students will be required to use general practical skills to design and make a range of shorter ’Focused Practical Tasks’. This will include preparing wood and plastics to make products. Students will have to show that they can use all tools, machinery and equipment safely with regard to the Health and safety requirements of the workshop.

    Pupils will continue to build on their skills in wood and plastic and will be introduced to some basic metalworking skills.
     

    Students will begin to adapt some of the practical task given. They will write specifications for their products and evaluate them; giving consideration to the user and suggesting further modifications

     Spring Year 10

    Introduction to the design process

    During this half term students will be working on a more substantial product following relevant areas of the design process. Projects will be predominantly made from wood and plastic and build on the skills learnt in the first term. Pupils will begin to learn about sketching and rendering techniques and computer aided design in order to communicate design ideas.

    Introduction to a complete Design and Make project
     

    Pupils will be given a design and make project to complete in preparation for their coursework. They will produce a folder of well-presented work that will inform their practical work. Pupils will investigate metals, timber, plastics, composites, smart and nanomaterials and begin to select appropriate materials for their products.

     

     Summer Year 10

    Introduction to mechanical systems and forces

    Students will investigate movement and model an automaton to show the movements they have investigated and will explore different forces in everyday products.

    Course work task
     

    Students will choose the project they want to make from a list issued by the exam board. they will undertake research and begin to  prepare coursework sheets based on their chosen topic.The coursework sheets will lead to a final practical product in year 11.

    How is the course assessed

    Key skills are assessed throughout the year in year 1. In the 2nd year of the course a Mock exam takes place in December and the theory work and practical product are assessed in March through teacher assessment and are then moderated by an external moderator. A 2 hour exam takes place in July.

     

    In the new specification for 2018 the theory work will include closer focus on :

    New and emerging technologies

    Enterprise/crowdfunding

    Sustainability

    Fossil fuels

    Nuclear power

    Renewable energy

    Energy storage systems

    Smart materials

    Focus practical tasks will be assessed at the end of each project

    Skills will be assessed at the end of the project

    Design and make tasks will be assessed at the end of the project

    A short assessment of theory work will take place in the summer term
     
     
     

     

     
     

     

     Autumn/Spring - Year 11

    Pupils prepare a folder of work for their chosen project. The folder includes research on existing products, materials, processes, design ideas, developed designs, modeling, planning, records of making and evaluation and testing. The pupils also complete their practical work ready for assessment. 
     
     
     

     

     Summer - Year 11

    Pupils practice exam questions and revise for exams
     

    How is the course assessed

    Teacher assesses the final project in March and the moderator assess the work in May

    2 hour GCSE examination takes place

    (40% for the examination in 2018)

    (50% for the 2019 examination)

    Section A – Core technical principles (20 marks)

    A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions assessing a breadth of technical knowledge and understanding.

    Section B – Specialist technical principles (30 marks)

    Several short answer questions (2–5 marks) and one extended response to assess a more in depth knowledge of technical principles.

    Section C – Designing and making principles (50 marks)
     

    A mixture of short answer and extended response questions.

     
     

     

     How can you support your child at home

    Encourage them to participate in any DIY tasks to help boost their skill level and to consolidate learning.

    Help them to investigate the way general household products/furniture is joined together.

    Watch design/recycling/craft programs on TV, as this will give a wider understanding of processes and materials used in ‘real’ products and the aesthetics of a good design
     

    Help them to evaluate their own ideas and products by encouraging them to comment on the good points and weaknesses in products around the home and ask them about what improvements they could make

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