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Helston Community College

Engineering

Is this course for me?
Engineering Design strengthens learners' critical thinking and problem solving skills within a creative environment, enabling them to develop and make prototypes/ products that solve real-world problems, considering their own and others' needs, wants, aspirations and values.

This qualification require learners to identify market needs and opportunities for new products, initiate and develop design solutions, and make and test prototypes/ products. Learners should acquire subject knowledge in design and technology, including how a product can be developed through the stages of prototyping, realisation and commercial manufacture.

What qualifications do I need?
The basic requirement is 5 or more Grade 4s at GCSE but ideally students will have achieved a 6 or above in GCSE Maths and GCSE engineering or D&T and GCSE science. An interest in art, and graphic design is a positive.

What does the course involve?
Students will study three units:

Unit 1: Principals of design and technology

  • Analyse existing products.
  • Demonstrate applied mathematical skills.
  • Demonstrate their technical knowledge of materials, product functionality, manufacturing processes and techniques.
  • Demonstrate their understanding of wider social, moral and environmental issues that impact on the design and manufacturing industries.


Unit 2: Problem solving

  • Apply their knowledge, understanding and skills of designing and manufacturing prototypes and products.
  • Demonstrate their higher thinking skills to solve problems and evaluate situations and suitability of design solutions.


Unit 3: The 'Iterative Design Project

  • Learners will undertake a substantial design, make and evaluate project centred on the iterative processes of explore, create and evaluate. Learners also identify a design opportunity or problem from a context of their own choice, and create a portfolio of evidence in real time through the project to demonstrate their competence.


How will my work be assessed?
Principles of Design and Technology -written paper 26.7% of total A Level
Problem Solving -written paper 23.3% of total A Level
Interactive Design Project-non-examined assessment 50% of total A Level.

What can I do afterwards?
Students completing this course can, with further study, move into careers in aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, manufacturing, materials science, civil, mechanical and marine engineering. Apprenticeships related to engineering or manufacturing are also possible.

A keen engineering mind is also sought after by financial institutions, insurance brokers and law firms as the key skill in engineering is problem solving in innovative ways.

Competent and enthusiastic engineers are highly sought after. Engineering is a subject in demand in the UK and abroad.

A career in engineering forms an occupational short list for a number of countries such as Canada and Australia and allows easier access to visas and exiting work opportunities in other countries and on amazing engineering projects around the world.