Technology

Aims of the course

The course is ideal for students with an interest in how things are made, both on a small scale and industrially. It would provide a great springboard for students wanting to progress to a career in manufacturing, engineering or design and architecture. 

Course Content

The course will enable students to: 

• develop a broad knowledge of materials, components and technologies 
• develop practical skills to produce high quality functional prototypes and products 
• develop decision making skills through both independent, team and collaborative work 
• communicate their decisions effectively to a third party
• be able to read, interpret and work from technical drawings, plans and instructions 
• be able to produce working drawings and production plans
• develop an understanding of quality and how this can be achieved by making to fine tolerances 
• use materials efficiently in relation to cost and environmental impact
• demonstrate safe working practices
• use key technical terminology related to materials and processes
• develop the knowledge and understanding to evaluate and refine their own skills
• develop an awareness of industrial practices and employment opportunities

Assessment

Producing Engineering Products 60 marks (50%) 
This element occupies a significant proportion of students' time. Students will develop lots of manufacturing skills, working with engineering machines such as centre lathes and mills, alongside hand tools and computer aided design and manufacturing equipment.  Using the skills developed throughout Year 10, students create a high-end product from provided technical drawings. 

Engineering Design 30 marks (25%) 
Students learn about an existing product by using it, testing it and taking it apart. They then re-design the product for a specific user group.  

Solving Engineering Problems (Exam) 30 marks (25%)  
This unit is an exam that tests students' engineering knowledge and your skills at problem solving. It can be sat at the end of Year 10 and re-sat at the end of Year 11 - only the best mark counts. 

Beyond The Vocational Award in engineering

The skills and knowledge developed during the course will help students wishing to progress onto a variety of further education and career paths. Students wishing to go down a creative path into design or architecture will have a solid understanding of how the products they will design can be made. Students wishing to go onto apprenticeships in engineering or the trades will have developed useful skills, knowledge of tools and machinery and an understanding of the materials they will be working with.  

Further Details

Further details about this qualification can be found on the Eduqas website here: Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Engineering (Technical Award)

aims of the course

The Construction course has been designed to provide students with a hands on introduction to the construction industry from the built perspective. Students will spend most of their time in the construction workshop, developing their skills in a range of trades. Students will demonstrate their skills by responding to a different exam board set brief each year and completing three different practical tasks (usually brick laying, carpentry and painting & decorating). Students will also participate in classroom based lessons to learn about the construction sector, types of buildings and roles within the industry.  

Course Content: 

Unit 1 — Introduction to the Built Environment 
Type of assessment: External examination (on-screen) 
Weighting: 40 % of the overall qualification 
Exam duration: 1 hour 30 minutes 
Marks: 80  

Unit 1 gives students a broad foundation in the construction sector — helping them understand how the built environment works, the different types of buildings and structures, key roles in the industry, materials and technologies used, sustainability, and health & safety. 

Unit 3 — Constructing the Built Environment 
Type of unit: Internal controlled assessment (practical task-based) 
Weighting:  60 % of the qualification  
Duration: Typically ~30 guided assessment hours 
 
Unit 3 focuses on practical building work and construction skills. Learners plan, carry out and evaluate real construction tasks. It’s very hands-on and vocational, preparing students with skills relevant to entering trades or further study. 

Assessment  

In total: 50% coursework, 50% exam 
Unit 1:  Safety & Security in Construction. 30% of total mark.  External exam 
Unit 2:  Practical Construction Skills. 40% of total mark. Internally assessed 
Unit 3:  Planning Construction Projects. 30% of total mark. External exam. 

Beyond Technical Award

The course leads very well into a range of vocational courses post 16. Students also find that the course prepares them well for apprenticeships and the world of work. One of the main aims of the course is to give students a broad oversight of the construction industry an enable them to get an idea of career paths that they would like to pursue. 

Further Information

Further information about this qualification can be found on the Educas website here: Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Construction and the Built Environment (Technical Award)

Aims of the Course

The Level 1/2 Technical Award in Food and Cookery is designed for learners who want an introduction to food and cookery that includes a vocational and project-based element. The qualification will appeal to learners who wish to pursue a career in the food industry or progress onto further study.

Students have the opportunity to learn about issues related to nutrition and food safety and how they affect successful hospitality and catering operations. In this qualification, students also develop food preparation and cooking skills as well as transferable skills of problem solving, budgeting, organisation and time management. 

Course Content

• This qualification covers key subject areas
• Building high level practical skills with weekly practical lessons 
• Food health and safety  
  Information on key food groups and key nutrients 
• Recipe development, amendment and evaluation 
• Reasons for food choice and food provenance

Assessment

The qualification has 2 assessments externally-set by NCFE: one non-exam assessment and one written examined assessment. 

Assessment breakdown:

• 1 hour 30 minutes examined assessment  
• 16 hours 30 minutes non-exam assessment 

Beyond Vocational Award 

Depending on the grade the learner achieves in this qualification, they could progress to level 2 and level 3 qualifications and/or GCSE/A Levels.

Learners who achieve at level 1 might consider progression to level 2 qualifications post-16, such as:

• NVQ Diploma in Food Production and Cooking 
• Level 2 Technical Certificate in Professional Cookery

Learners who achieve at level 2 might consider progression to level 3 qualifications post-16, such as: 

• Level 3 Applied Certificate/Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition
• Advanced Technical Diploma in Professional Cookery
• T Level in Catering (this will support progression to higher education) 

Further information

Further information about this qualification can be found at the NCFE website here: NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Food and Cookery