Technology

Pupils will gain technical and design awareness as a result and develop initiative, resourcefulness, inquisitiveness and ingenuity. They will also develop the communication skills central to design, making and evaluation.

Pupils at Haileybury have the choice of specialising in one of two areas at IGCSE: Product Design or Design Engineering.

Both disciplines have different focuses and allow our pupils to specialise in these topics in a theory paper and project work. All pupils studying Design Technology must also sit a common design paper that tests their design thinking and skills.

Product Design (previously known as Resistant Materials) aims to develop the skills which designers use within the context of materials and the equipment used to process them. Pupils gain practical experience and an understanding of materials and their physical and working properties of plastics, woods, metals and composites in relation to specific designing and manufacturing tasks.

Design Engineering (previously known as Systems & Control) aims to develop skills and knowledge used by designers within the areas of structural, mechanical and electronic engineering. Pupils undertake practical activities in all three areas which augment the theoretical modules. By identifying how these areas interrelate, pupils can appreciate and exploit opportunities to design and make controlled systems. Pupils studying these courses will have to complete an internally-assessed major project which makes up 50% of the IGCSE. This is a rewarding yet challenging aspect of the course as pupils need to develop excellent project management skills in order complete a detailed design portfolio and high quality product.

Design technology is also offered as an A level and as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)