SPECIFICATION LINK: H406

TITLE: OCR Level 3 Advanced GCE in Design and Technology

Why study Design and Technology at William Farr?

Design and Technology gives students the opportunity to understand how real products are designed, engineered, and manufactured. The course blends creative project work with the core knowledge needed for the written examination, taught by staff with examining expertise for the Pearson exam board. Folio development runs throughout the course to ensure strong preparation for the Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), which is worth 50% of the final grade and based on solving a real-world design problem. Initial NEA work begins after Easter in Year 12 and continues into Year 13. After the summer break, students focus on specialist examination content alongside the continued development of their NEA.

The department also offers enrichment opportunities, previously including visits to Jaguar Land Rover, London museums, and international study tours such as Barcelona and New York. Students benefit from excellent workshop facilities and modern CAD/CAM technologies, including 3D printing, CNC routing and laser cutting. Teaching is delivered by experienced specialists who support students in developing industry-relevant design and engineering skills. The department has a strong record of high-quality outcomes, with many students progressing to competitive university courses and higher apprenticeships.

The course is well suited to students who enjoy designing, making, and understanding how products work and who want to develop skills that are valued across a wide range of industries.

What will you study?

Students build core understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and wider design factors, followed by the impact of technological developments. In Year 13, learning extends into digital technologies, manufacturing industries, sustainable design, legislation, and project management, offering a well-rounded view of contemporary design and engineering practice.

Where can Design and Technology lead?

This flexible and creative course supports pathways into a wide range of design and engineering careers, including product design, architecture, industrial design, automotive design, furniture design, graphic design, interior design, model making, UX design, and engineering disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Aerospace. Many students progress to university or higher apprenticeships in these fields.