Year 7 Product Design / Resistant Materials: -
In Year 7 pupils are taught skills and knowledge through a variety of design and make tasks. They produce a wooden pencil box with a lid that pivots - the lid has been laser cut to the pupil's design - which gives them a firm foundation for progression in Year 8. Pupils also undertake a control and coding module based around the micro:bit.  The pupils create an ergonomic screwdriver using mild steel rod and polymorph.

Year 8 Product Design / Resistant Materials: -
Building on the skills and techniques learned in Year 7, pupils are introduced to the methods used to produce products in quantity in industry. Using CAD/CAM, pupils look at the modern subculture of steam punk and create their own working steam punk clock. They will also create moving automata, looking at how cams and levers work to create their own animated scene. Finally pupils will produce their own box design. Looking at how imaginative and creative use of measuring and cutting techniques can create different forms.

Year 9 Product Design / Resistant Materials: -
In Year 9 pupils undertake a group project in renewable energy. The pupils work in groups of 3–4 and design and create their own large Wind Turbines, looking at aspects of eco-efficiency and structure. Pupils also undertake an electronics project, building their own circuit board for a portable MP3 speaker system. They will then have the opportunity to create a case for their working speaker.  Also in Year 9, pupils undertake a Design Engineer Construct (DEC) module.  This involves the pupils looking at sustainability in the built environment, finding inspiration from international architects and answering a design brief set by our partnership school in Nagpur, India. 

Pupils will be enthused and challenged by the range of practical activities possible as the specification for GCSE Product Design seeks to build upon the multimedia approach of graphic design and the 3D making of Resistant Materials.

Pupils will design and make products using a wide range of materials, whilst paper/card continues to be the compulsory material for study in this multi-material specification. You must study at least one other material and are encouraged to develop an awareness of other material areas.

In Year 10 pupils follow a modular rotation pattern which involves:

• Use of CAD/CAM to develop modelling techniques and produce a graphics based project;
• Creatively using wood to create a product out of: Looking at design and making skills;
• Learning new skills about how to join and manipulate a combination of materials, developing the skills to create an interesting final product;
• Designing products that suit a specific target market: Looking at their sustainable impact and how to develop and improve them.

Having completed these modules the pupils will then have the opportunity to select an exam theme and work in the material area of their choice. This provides challenge and enables the pupils to work independently, using the skills that they have gained through Year 10 and Key Stage 3.

The two year full Product Design course requires pupils to undertake the Year 10 course and then to complete a coursework project (worth 60% of the final grade) and a theory examination (worth 40% of the final grade) in Year 11. Pupils will select from a range of broad set tasks a single design and make activity.

In Year 10 the modules will be assessed following the coursework guidelines and there will be end of module tests. In February the pupils will undertake the coursework task that they have chosen.

Design Engineer Construct! (DEC!) is a qualification, equivalent to a GCSE, offering pupils the opportunity to develop a range of skills and knowledge fundamental to the Construction and Built Environment sector of industry. We all work and live in buildings that have been planned and designed for us. The emphasis on how exciting it would be to plan and design your own buildings is essentially what the pupils do in Year 11.   

Within the course the pupils will have the opportunity to work with professionals in this industry.  We are linked to an international civil engineering company called CH2M. The engineers come in to school and discuss their careers and set challenges for the pupils to do. We also have a link with an architectural firm, Eric Coles in Cirencester. Pupils use professional standard IT drawing packages to realise their design ideas. An understanding of the career opportunities available in this sector is also important.   

Pupils in Year 10 undertake a series of mini tasks and challenges.  One of these is to design an Eco-classroom, this is Level 1.  The pupils are given the opportunity to work in teams and to present their work to their class. 

In Year 11 the pupils undertake to design and model a building of their choice.  They present their ideas to their client and produce a folio of work following the Level 2 guidance.  The coursework is pass or fail and the final exam gives them the GCSE grade.