A Level
Exam Board: AQA
Subject Leader: Mrs F Ross

The Product Design course will provide students with an opportunity to develop transferable and industrial skills that employers seek for when recruiting in the world of work. Through the range of practical and theoretical tasks our students will become creative thinkers that can utilise the qualification to lead them in to the world of engineering, architecture, graphic designer, product developer and many more career options.

How is the course organised and assessed?

In Year 12, students begin a Non Examined Assessment (NEA) which contributes to 50% of their overall grading – the task is chosen by the students and they have to work their way through the design process to create a solution to their chosen task.  This may be a storage solution or a product that is educational for children.

Whilst working on the NEA students will have theoretical lessons that cover the materials and environmental impacts of design on the products that we create.

In Year 13, the NEA will be continued whilst students will also be improving their theoretical knowledge of engineering and the world of materials.  They will also have to complete 2 written papers contributing to the remainder of the A Level grading.

What's next?

Many students who take this course, proceed directly into an apprenticeship or continue their further education by applying for one of the many university courses linked to the A Level.   With so many industrial options in the surrounding area some students may look to link with JLR, Silverstone or one of the many other manufacturers in Warwickshire.