AS (H005) and A Level (H405) in Design and Technology: Fashion and Textiles
AS (H006 and A Level (H406) in Design and Technology: Product Design
The current Design and Technology specifications replaced all legacy qualifications in September 2017. This reform saw the complete separation of AS and A Level qualification, so they are stand alone, the AS no longer feeding into the A Level qualification. OCR have delivered an interpretation of the DfE set content that allows a real flexibility to centres, so they can deliver a course that best suits their students interests whilst still covering the wider requirements of the qualification, whilst still delivering a qualification suitable for the 21st century. Teachers are free to exemplify content through case studies or focused learning that they themselves have an interest of expertise in, removing the need to learn about specific designers, design movements or design approaches.
OCR are the only Awarding Organisation that offer centres an option of three endorsed titles at both AS and A Level:
- Design Engineering
- Fashion and Textiles
- Product Design
Centres are able to have a teaching group where more than one of these endorsed titles are taught alongside each other, but in doing so they need to retain their distinction when undertaking the NEA and students will need to have appropriate coverage of the examined content that is specific to each endorsed title.
It is recommended to deliver the subject in a practical, hands on and thought provoking manner in order to cover the required theory for the examined component, through the principles of iterative designing ‘Explore/Create/Evaluate’ which will also prepare students for their NEA (Non-exam assessment) projects.
Maths skills area also examined, equivalent to GCSE Maths (higher tier). If you refer to past and practice papers, you will see that the Maths is not complex but allowing students to become familiar with applying it in differing contexts is key. Design Engineering students have more Maths content to cover but are likely to also be taking an A Level in either Maths or Physics, so should not struggle with even the more complex content. Product Design and Fashion and Textiles students may need to be kept fresh with the related Maths content. This can be best achieved by contextualising their understanding to relate to endorsed title and design discipline being followed.
The NEA units are required to remain true to endorsed title being followed. To find out more about this, there are interpretations for each endorsed title on pages 57 to 59 of the A Level specification.
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