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A Level Design Technology (Food) at Ousedale School

Qualification	AS and A2 Level
Head Of Department	Mrs D McLean

This course is aimed at students who have been successful in any aspect of Design Technology at GCSE Level, whether it be in Food, Textiles or in Resistant Materials. There is a natural progression from knowledge, understanding and skills established in Years 10 and 11 at KS4, in whatever strand chosen at that stage.

Typical Content

The course has a modular focus, the AS Level qualification can be attained after one year of study, and the Advanced Level after two years of study. At AS Level the course focuses on:

• Unit 1/4 - Material components and uses
• Unit 2/5 - Industrial and commercial practice
• Unit 3/6 - Product development

At Advanced Level the course builds upon these skills as students will study:

• A specific area in depth - own choice
• A designing and making activity - own choice
• Further specified study set by Examination Board

All build upon Key Skills:

• Communication - Working as a team member
• ICT - improving own learning and performance
• Application of number - Problem solving

So why would you choose the Design and Technology - food based course?

• You will be able to build upon the firm foundation of skills, both written and practical, achieved at GCSE Level.
• Using your knowledge of the Design Process, you may build links with the commercial and industrial world from a perspective of historical evidence compared to current technological advances being made as we proceed into the 21st Century.
• Working as a team member as well as an individual, you will develop skills and record your evidence from investigations carried out.
• Opportunities are available to use/improve your ICT skills and use your numerical skills as you develop design ideas.
• There are a number of wider issues inherent in the design process, related to social/moral/spiritual/ethical and cultural areas that you will consider in your problem solving activities.
• Finally, there will be many chances to continue to use your natural creativity in relation to food design and analysis.

Teaching styles will be varied:

• Practical development of brand new food products related to a specific client's needs
• Personal research into Design and Market influences
• Group discussion
• Experimentation
• Essay writing

How will your work be assessed? Design/Making 50/50

AS Level	Unit 1 30% of total Written paper 1 1/2 hours	Unit 2 40% Coursework 50 hours	Unit 3 30% Written paper 2 hours
A2 Level	Unit 4 Project Study 25 hours	Unit 5 Project 15%	Unit 6 Written paper 3 hours

So what can you do with your qualifications?
Career prospects

• Catering/Hotel Management
• Retail
• Leisure/Tourism
• Teaching Design and Technology
• Environmental Health
• Food Economics
• Food Engineering
• Food Management
• Dietetics
• Nursing
• Community Health
• Product Design and Manufacturing