Curriculum Leader: Mr. Lee Van-Baaren

A course in Product Design offers a unique opportunity in the curriculum for candidates to identify and solve real problems by designing and making products or systems in a wide range of contexts relating to their personal interests. GCSE Product Design develops candidates' interdisciplinary skills and their capacity for imaginative, innovative thinking, creativity and independence.

The specification is based upon the view that Product Design is essentially a practical activity involving the combination of skills with knowledge and understanding in order to design and make quality products. It is intended to develop pupils' design and technological capability through a flexible and broad-based approach. The schemes of learning have been developed to ensure that it is planned to be sufficiently broad, balanced and relevant to interest all pupils.

Pupils will have the opportunity to analyse and evaluate situations, design and make products, and then appraise their own performance. They will be provided with the opportunity to work with a range of materials, ICT and CAD/CAM including 2D Design, Onshape, 3D printing and the laser cutter. Pupils will be presented with the subject in a stimulating and interesting way to promote discussion and research. They will be given the opportunity to experience the variety of roles involved in design and technology; client, designer, maker, manager, user, etc