Technology is part of the curriculum at Wellington College and is taught throughout all of KS3, and offered to students for GCSE and A Level.
Technology and Design is a constantly evolving subject, providing opportunities for all pupils to apply creativity, scientific knowledge and numeracy skills to real world design situations. Technology and Design is concerned primarily with the design and manufacture of high quality technological products. Every design is influenced by external factors such as consumer demands, human needs, environmental impact and the design context. Studying Technology and Design provides opportunities to tackle and resolve design and technological problems to meet needs within a range of contexts.
The Technology and Design department in Wellington College are keen to participate in STEM competitions in addition to timetabled classes to further develop students’ learning and understanding of the ever changing world around them. We believe skills learnt through STEM competitions allow an individual to experience healthy and fun competition, develop camaraderie, give them an opportunity to achieve and have a purpose within and outside school.
Key Stage 3
All pupils in years 8 to 10 study Technology and Design for 2 periods a week. A typical project may incorporate activities such as freehand sketching, electronics, ICT and CAD skills and workshop manufacture using a range of resistant materials. Pupils will be given opportunities to gain confidence in both practical and theoretical aspects of the subject based on the core components of GCSE Technology and Design.
GCSE
Specification: Technology & Design
Examining Board: CCEA
Course Content
Designing – evaluate products, generating ideas, engaging in creative questioning and thinking, producing specifications.
Communicating – use latest graphics techniques effectively with appropriate vocabulary.
Manufacturing – use a range of tools and equipment on a range of materials and components in a variety of processes.
Energy and Control – understand that there are various types of control systems including mechanical, electronic and pneumatic.
Coursework Requirements
Students considering Technology & Design should:
- Enjoy designing and making their own products
- Have an interest in Product Design and Development
- Be confident and responsible in solving real life problems through creative solutions
- Enjoy graphical communications
- Use IT tools to record, process, and present information
Summary of Examination Information
Students must be assessed on Units 1, 2 and 3.
| Teaching & Learning Units | Assessment | Weighting |
| Unit 1:Technology and Design Core | Externally assessed written paperExamination lasts 1 hour 30mins | 25% |
| Unit 2:Product design | Externally assessed written paperExamination lasts 1 hour 30mins | 25% |
| Unit 3:Design and Manufacture project | Controlled assessment10 page portfolio plus manufactured product | 50% |
Occupational Studies
Specification: Technology & Design
Examining Board: CCEA
Course Content Focus
Single Award Certificate
NQF Level 2 Engineering and Engineering Services
- Equivalent to one GCSE
- Assessment totally based on workshop activity.
- Accessible to a wide range of learners.
- Learners apply their knowledge in practical, work related situations and contexts.
- Facilitate learning with an occupational and employability focus at KS4.
- Provides for a coherent and balanced qualification: and
- Enables progression to other courses and to training and employment.
Coursework Requirements
Students considering this course should:
- Enjoy making their own products.
- Enjoy IT graphical communications.
- Use IT tools to record, process, and present information.
- Enjoy soldering components onto printed circuit boards.
Summary of Course Content Information
| Teaching & Learning Units – Year 11 | Assessment Area |
| Engineering and Engineering Services | Electronic Circuit Construction |
| Teaching & Learning Units – Year 12 | Assessment Area |
| Engineering and Engineering Services | Plumbing Techniques |
A Level
Design and Technology – Product Design A Level (2 Year course)
Examining Board – EDUQAS (Welsh Board)
Course Description
Design and Technology A Level is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. It encourages students to use creativity and imagination when applying the iterative design processes to develop and modify designs, and to design and make prototypes that solve real world problems, considering their own and others’ needs.
Design and Technology enables students to identify market needs and opportunities for new products, initiate and develop design solutions, and make and test prototypes.
Studying Design and Technology A Level will develop skills in identifying problems and creating solutions, developing design ideas, practical skills in hand, machine and CAD/CAM techniques, critical thinking and self-evaluation. These skills can lead onto studying in further or higher education in a range of areas and potential careers such as Engineering, Architecture, Product Design and Development, Graphic Design, Medical and Dental Technology and Prosthetics
| Content | Assessment | Weighting |
| Design and Technology in the 21st Century | 3 Hour written exam completed in Year 14 | 50% of overall A Level |
| Design and make project | Coursework consisting of a sketch book, portfolio and manufactured product | 50% of overall A LevelCompleted across Yr13&14 |
Entry Criteria
- Achieved a grade B or above in GCSE Technology and Design – product design specification.
- Have experience in using CAD software SolidWorks for design and manufacture.
- Have the ability to produce hand sketches to a good standard
Careers
The Technology and Design Department takes every opportunity to promote careers and specifically in areas where Engineering makes a major contribution. We are conscious that these areas range much more widely than simply the academic, and that there are career paths to suit a range of abilities and interests. Within classroom teaching, we frequently refer to applications of the topics under study, and to the occupations which arise from these areas, indeed within each scheme of work Careers is highlighted as a related subject area.
Students who studied Technology and Design to A2 Level have pursued university courses and careers in areas such as:
- Product Design
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Graphic Design
- Civil Engineering
- Quantity Surveying
- Teaching
- Architecture
- Set and Special Effects Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
- Computer Operator
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Web Designer
- Inventor
- Network and Communications Analyst
- Construction
- Interior Designer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
