At Key Stage 3 in Design Technology students will experience 6 units of learning per year as illustrated below. Students develop technical knowledge and designing and making skills in the context of different material areas that is underpinned by a core D&T unit which scaffolds the learning.

Students will have access to specialist rooms and equipment for each of their specialist areas and learners are expected to apply their knowledge and skills across these specialisms to develop deep understanding of the subject. Emphasis is placed on environmental issues and students will be able to explore the important issues around plastics, and will have opportunities to read articles about wide ranging issues which designers must contend with in their industry. In food there is strong focus on health and nutrition and cooking cost effective, nutritious meals for themselves and their families.

During year 9 students will have the opportunity to express a preference for which specialist area they would like to consolidate their learning in; Product Design, Textiles or Food and Nutrition. At the end of this three-year journey students will have gained knowledge and skills which they can transfer to other areas as well as essential life skills. Some students may wish to continue their learning in D&T and progress to student it at GCSE level.

GCSE Design & Technology (AQA 8552) – Curriculum Overview

GCSE Design & Technology empowers students to become creative, curious and confident problem-solvers. Through a dynamic mix of practical workshops and engaging theory lessons, students learn how real products are designed, developed and brought to life. The course encourages innovation, resilience and independent thinking—key skills for future designers, engineers and creators.

Specialist Pathways: Timbers or Textiles

While all students study the full breadth of materials — including timbers, metals, polymers, papers & boards, and textiles — they will also choose to specialise in either a Timbers pathway or a Textiles pathway.

This allows students to develop deeper expertise in a chosen material area while still gaining a broad understanding of the wider world of design and manufacturing.

Timbers Pathway: Ideal for students who enjoy working with wood, creating functional products, and mastering workshop tools and processes such as cutting, shaping, jointing and finishing.

Textiles Pathway: Perfect for those interested in fabrics, fashion, surface decoration, and technical textiles. Students explore construction techniques, sustainability, and innovative fabrics shaping tomorrow’s world.

Both pathways follow the same core curriculum and lead to the same GCSE qualification.

What Students Will Learn:

Core Technical Principles
Taught through hands-on activities and focused theory sessions, students explore:
Properties and uses of a wide range of materials
Energy, forces and mechanisms
Systems, electronics and smart/modern materials
Sustainability, environmental impact and responsible design
Industrial processes and commercial manufacture
Specialist Technical Principles (Timbers or Textiles)

Students deepen their understanding of tools, machinery, processes and material characteristics within their chosen pathway. They learn how to design for strength, durability, function, aesthetics and user needs, applying specialist techniques to high-quality outcomes.

Designing & Making Practice
Through creative, practical design challenges, students will:
Develop ideas using sketches, CAD and modelling
Build prototypes and final products using workshop skills
Test, evaluate and refine their designs
Understand how professional designers think and work

How Learning Happens

Students experience a balanced blend of practical workshops and interactive theory lessons. Practical sessions give them the excitement of bringing ideas to life — learning how to handle tools, materials and machinery safely and confidently. Theory lessons provide the essential knowledge that underpins good design, helping students understand why products work as they do.

This combination ensures students are well prepared for both the written exam and the Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) design project in Year 11, where they independently design and make a product inspired by a real-world context.

Why Choose GCSE Design & Technology?

GCSE D&T is an inspiring subject that encourages creativity, innovation and problem-solving. Students learn skills that open the door to exciting future pathways in:
Engineering
Product design
Architecture
Fashion and textiles
Furniture design
Interior design
Creative industries and beyond

It is a subject where imagination becomes reality — and where students discover that great design has the power to shape the world around us.