“An interest in ideas is a sign of human life. People are fascinated by what the future is going to be – and the future is going to be an accumulation of ideas”Thomas Heatherwick
Bromley High School offers an exciting, progressive and practical course in which students explore the modern and evolving world of technology through research, design, manufacture and testing.
Pupils are challenged to apply iterative design techniques to real world problems and encouraged at every stage of the curriculum to be creative, innovative, enterprising and resourceful. The facilities at Bromley High School offer opportunities to integrate CNC laser cutting, 3D printing, Adobe Creative Cloud and 3D CAD modelling within coursework portfolios.
A level
The course builds a contemporary skill set which provides pupils with the tools to innovate and excel across a diverse range of industries, from Engineering and Design to Psychology and Law. By the end of the course, pupils will have strong design thinking skills and a problem-solving approach suited to a modern technological world. They will identify market needs and opportunities for new products, initiate and refine design solutions, and make and test prototypes. Pupils will gain subject knowledge, including an understanding of how a product progresses through the stages of prototyping, realisation and commercial manufacture. They will also cultivate critical thinking through enquiry and problem-solving, alongside the exploration, creation and evaluation of iterative design. We encourage freedom in design and making. The OCR content requires pupils to apply mathematical and scientific knowledge, further enhancing their understanding and skills. This content reflects the importance of Design and Technology as an integral component of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM) community.
Course Content and Assessment – Examination Board: OCR, Code: H406
This course is designed around industry standard approaches allowing pupils to prepare for higher education or employment. The course develops a multitude of skills and knowledge; critical thinking, problem solving and creative skills needed in a modern workplace. The course values pupils ’ interests and future degree plans.
Pupils can focus on an arts based approach, leading to Architecture or Graphic Design as a degree course or a STEAM based technical route leading to a degree in Engineering or Industrial Design. The options are designed to direct pupils along the academic path they have envisaged. Pupils with an Art background can also select Product Design, especially those looking at related degrees who are keen to develop their design portfolios.
- Iterative design project (Non-exam assessment: Approx. 65 hours, 50% of the qualification)
The coursework project can be completed in an area of the pupils choice – there is no set brief or context. This opens up the opportunity for pupils to specialise in areas of interest including architecture and industrial design. Central to this non-examination assessment is the requirement for pupils to understand and apply processes of iterative design to evolve their design portfolios: exploring needs, creating solutions and evaluating how well these needs have been met. Pupils will create a chronological portfolio of evidence in real-time as they design, make and assess their ideas according to the iterative practices of explore, create and evaluate.
At the end of the second year, pupils will sit two examinations:
- Paper 1: Principles of Product Design (Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes, 26.7% of the qualification)
- Paper 2: Problem Solving (Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes, 23.3% of the qualification)
Co-Curricular
Each year, pupils have the opportunity to apply for a Design and Technology Scholarship to support their future studies, with applications available in Year 11. We also encourage pupils to visit leading design exhibitions, such as New Designers and 100% Design, to help develop their portfolios and network with industry professionals.
Careers & Higher Education
This course may lead to the study of a variety of disciplines including Architecture, Engineering, Product Design, Interior Design, Marketing and Computer Aided Design. We utilise a diverse range of CAD Software Packages including SketchUp, OnShape, 2D Design, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Google Drive.
Skills developed within our faculty reflect commercial practices; meeting deadlines, presentation skills, problem solving, employing initiative, working independently and developing your ability to utilise Computer Aided Design software.
