Sixth Form
Design & Technology
Design and Technology bridges the gap between creative imagination and physical reality, empowering students to engineer innovative solutions for a rapidly changing world.
At Ryde you can study Design and Technology at A Level and IBDP.
Why study DT at Ryde School?
Studying Design and Technology at Ryde School at A Level or the International Baccalaureate (IB) offers a dynamic and highly creative pathway for students passionate about innovation, engineering, and hands-on design.
Studying design and technology at Ryde opens doors to competitive degree courses and rewarding careers in fields such as architecture, product design, mechanical engineering, and sustainable manufacture. Here, students do not just study design; they learn to think like pioneering designers and engineers, equipped with the technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and practical workshop skills needed to shape the physical products and systems of tomorrow’s world.
Courses Available
Design and Technology is an innovative subject that encourages students’ to think creatively to solve real-world problems. Through a combination of designing, making and critical evaluation, students learn how products are developed from concept to working prototype. Throughout the course, students will work with a range of materials and processes to build upon technical knowledge. They will explore how designers respond to the needs and wants of the users, whilst considering wider environmental, economic and social influences. The course encourages students to become creative, responsible and forward-thinking designers of the future.
Entry Requirements
GCSE Design Technology Grade 6 or above. Students who have not studied Design Technology at GCSE will be considered on an individual basis following a discussion with the Head of Design Technology.
Award
A LEVEL EDEXCEL Design Technology
Course Content/Structure
A Level Design and Technology equips students with design skills for the future. At A level students will have the confidence to innovate and produce creative design solutions as they develop their own design brief with a client/end user. Students follow an iterative design process to develop and modify designs, and to design and make prototypes that solve real world problems, considering their own and others’ needs, wants, aspirations and values.
Component 1: Principles of Design and Technology
Students will be required to apply knowledge and understanding of a wide range of design principles from materials and processes, sustainability, design movement and mathematical/scientific principles.
Component 2: Independent Design and Make Project
The purpose of this component is to undertake a substantial design, make and evaluate project which will test students’ skills in designing and making a prototype.
Assessment
Component 1
Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes 50% of the qualification (120 marks).
Component 2
Non-examined assessment and 50% of the qualification (120 marks).
Inquiry and problem solving are at the heart of the subject. Students explore many relevant topics in today’s world in which the nature of the subject bridges theory with practice. Students demonstrate their investigative, analytical, design thinking, design development, prototyping, testing and evaluation skills and mirror the design processes used across the various industries that integrate design practice.
Entry Requirements
GCSE Design Technology Grade 6 or above. Students who have not studied Design Technology at GCSE will be considered on an individual basis following a discussion with the Head of Design Technology.
Award
IBDP & IBCP Design Technology (Sciences – Group 4)
Course Content/Structure
People
A1.1 Ergonomics B1.1 User-centred design C1.1 Responsibility of the designer C1.2 Inclusive design C1.3 Beyond usability (HL only)
Process
A2.1 User-centred research methods, A2.2 Prototyping techniques, B2.1 The design process, B2.2 Modelling and prototyping, C2.1 Design for sustainability, C2.2 Design for a circular economy
Product
A3.1 Material classification and properties, A3.2 Introduction to
structural systems (HL only), A3.3 Introduction to mechanical systems (HL only), A3.4 Introduction to electronic systems (HL only), B3.1 Material selection
B3.2 Structural systems application and selection (HL only), B3.3 Mechanical systems application and selection (HL only), B3.4 Electronic systems application and selection (HL only), C3.1 Product analysis and evaluation, C3.2 Life-cycle analysis (HL only)
Production
A4.1 Manufacturing techniques (HL only), B4.1 Production systems (HL
only), C4.1 Design for manufacture strategies (HL only)
Internal Assessment: The design project is an open-ended task in which a student must identify, analyse, evaluate and redesign an existing product to meet the needs of an intended user.
Assessment
SL – Paper 1 20% Paper 2 40% Internal assessment design project 40%
HL – Paper 1 25% Paper 2 45% Internal assessment design project 30%