GCSE Design and Technology₈₅₅₂

1.1 Why choose AQA for GCSE Design and Technology

GCSE Design and Technology will prepare students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on Design and Technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise.

Our GCSE allows students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth.

You can find out about all our Design and Technology qualifications at aqa.org.uk/designandtechnology

1.2 Support and resources to help you teach

We’ve worked with experienced teachers to provide you with a range of resources that will help you confidently plan, teach and prepare for exams.

1.2.1 Teaching resources

Visit aqa.org.uk/8552 to see all our teaching resources. They include:

• teaching guidance including lesson plans, and suggested teaching strategies to provide you with practical guidance to help deliver this specification
• non-exam assessment example materials and a dedicated subject adviser for every school or college to help you understand our expectations for this part of the assessment
• sample schemes of work to help you plan your course with confidence
• textbooks tailored to our specification and approved by AQA
• training courses to help you deliver AQA Design and Technology qualifications
• subject expertise courses for all teachers, from newly qualified teachers who are just getting started to experienced teachers looking for fresh inspiration.

1.2.2 Preparing for exams

Visit aqa.org.uk/8552 for everything you need to prepare for our exams, including:

• past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports
• Exampro: a searchable bank of past AQA exam questions
• example student answers with examiner commentaries.

Analyse your students' results with Enhanced Results Analysis (ERA)

Find out which questions were the most challenging, how the results compare to previous years and where your students need to improve. ERA, our free online results analysis tool, will help you see where to focus your teaching. Register at aqa.org.uk/era

For information about results, including maintaining standards over time, grade boundaries and our post-results services, visit aqa.org.uk/results

Keep your skills up-to-date with professional development

Time in the classroom is precious, but we understand that as your career develops, the skills and knowledge you need may change. As well as subject-specific training, we offer a range of courses to help boost your skills.

• Feedback sessions to understand how students have performed in this year’s exams.
• Virtual communities where you can chat to teachers in your subject area about what’s important to you.

This is just the start. Our events calendar is full of different ways for you to learn, understand and be inspired. Find out more at aqa.org.uk/professional-development .

Help and support

Visit our website for information, guidance, support and resources at aqa.org.uk/8552

If you'd like us to share news and information about this qualification, sign up for emails and updates at aqa.org.uk/from-2017

Alternatively, you can call or email our subject team direct.

E: dandt@aqa.org.uk

T: 0161 957 3334