Design and Technology (Engineering)

Course summary

The Engineering sector continues to suffer from a skills gap and requires enthusiastic, young engineers to keep up with rapidly developing technologies. Across the board, on average, professional engineers can expect to earn more than £10,000 per year over and above the national average salary. The prospects for employment and progression are also positive with very low unemployment within the sector. Research carried out showed that 14% of FTSE-100 top executives were qualified engineers. This Design Engineering A level is focused on engineered and electronic products and systems; the analysis of these in respect of function, operation, components, and materials, in order to understand their application and uses in engineered products/systems that have commercial viability. This course is good preparation for students intending to study engineering at university or through an apprenticeship after sixth form. This course enables learners to work creatively when designing and making and to apply technical and practical expertise. Learners will be encouraged to: • Be open to taking design risks, showing innovation and enterprise whilst considering their role as responsible designers and citizens. • Develop intellectual curiosity about the design and manufacture of products and systems, and their impact on daily life and the wider world. • Work collaboratively to develop and refine their ideas, responding to feedback from users, peers, and expert practitioners. • Gain an insight into the creative, engineering, and/or manufacturing industries. • Develop the capacity to think creatively, innovatively, and critically through focused research and the exploration of design opportunities arising from the needs, wants, and values of users and clients.