UPDATE (August 2024): Updated with the summer 2024 grade boundaries from AQA. UPDATE (August 2023): Updated with the summer 2023 grade boundaries from AQA. All previous past papers are now added with the 2023 paper used for final/mock exams and 2022 paper for end of theory tests. Added a guide to using the tracker with the theory presentation units. !!Please use the 2022 spreadsheet. The previous tracker (2021 ) is just to be used for reference!! UPDATE (August 2022): Updated with the summer 2022 grade boundaries from AQA. UPDATE (September 2021): A new and updated spreadsheet has been added to the resource. This has comment banks from the syllabus which are generated from the marks awarded. UPDATE February 2021): Suitable past paper questions are now added to each section which match the presentation slides that are now available. See product details for how to use these for ongoing assessment in the theoretical aspects of the A Level course. Titles now match those in the AQA Theory presentations. November 2020 grade boundaries have been used in the tracker. This is a comprehensive tracker for AQA A Level Product Design although it could be adapted for other courses/exam boards. If you complete the Student information sheet, all the relevant data will be copied to the corresponding sheets. The same with the Grade boundary sheet which sets last year’s grade boundaries for every aspect of the course. There is an outline for delivering the course theory content spread over 60 lessons which will have supporting presentations at a later date. Teachers can choose the past papers to use for reinforcing learning and these are all mapped to the new content on the Content sheet. For ongoing assessments, put the total score for the question in the top of the column for each lesson or unit and as you complete the score for the student, it will give an average of their results over the year and compare these to their mock results. All this data is copied to the front page where the results from the NEA are added to give an accurate grade prediction based on the previous year’s grade boundaries. There is scope for teachers to tweak this resource to suit but for now, cells that have formula or references are locked to prevent any errors. Each worksheet can be unlocked with the password ‘advanced’.

Update: Mark scheme added for the past paper and other questions in the lessons. A set of 15 lessons in editable Powerpoint Show format which cover the teaching of Wood and Timber, just run them as they are in Powerpoint show format, or open them within Powerpoint to edit. Each lesson includes a lesson outcome, introduction, summary of the unit and revision tips as well as links to maths and science and a suggested practical activity. Questions and past paper questions are matched to those in the AQA DT tracker (recently updated) so you can deliver theory as well as assessing knowledge and tracking progress. You only need to cover ONE material group in depth so use this resource with the GCSE theory bundle available separately which covers all of the compulsory learning units.

UPDATE 2: This tracker has been updated to support just A Level D&T and has new featres added. This version remains for those still running AS Level D&T or who want access to this particualr version of the tracker. You can still edit the grade boundaries as long as the AS exam is still available. UPDATE1 The May/June 2019 exams have been added so this is up to date and the grade boundaries have also been updated from the results on 15th August 2019. An 8 page spreadsheet which tracks NEA progress and allows for mock and real examination analysis based on the AQA syllabus 7551 and 7552 but it can be adapted for other AO’s. It has been used to successfully predict final grades for many years and is a useful interactive tool to use in the classroom or during progression meetings. It uses a traffic light system to show weaker areas in performance and a look up table to predict final grades and to compare against targets. A Level grade boundaries are not yet known but can be changed as needed. AS level boundaries from 2018 have been added to the AS tab. This currently uses the standard 2/4 module boundaries for grades. This is for the new GCE syllabus with first AS exam in 2018. It has been updated June 2019 to allow up to 26 students on one sheet and looks up student name and number from the information tabs. Cells not needed to be edited are locked off but the password to unlock each sheet is ‘advanced’.

UPDATE: April 2021 additional pages added to support the use of the Braille Box to teach about branding, IP, patents, crowdfunding, ecological footprint and more. Specification updated to match the new theory presentations that will soon be available. This is my own take on what I believe a level 9 folder could look like for the new AQA GCSE in Design and Technology and was produced when no examplar material was avalable from examination boards. It is appropriate for the ‘children’s learning and play’ sample context and covers exploring a context, iterative design, prototyping and client led brief along with investigations, analysis and evaluations. Supplied as both self-running Powerpoint Show and printable PDF file, there are 40 slides in the folder as per the AQA suggested limit, each with a commentary and a summary at the end of each A0 as well as extra slides at the end to support the process. In total there are now 68 slides here but the extra slides are for the benefit of the teacher, or to explain and justify the marks awarded.** There is evidence in the folder of SketchUp, Solidworks, Photoshop and the use of CNC equipment and 3D printing. It is not endorsed by any examination board but can inspire you in your approach to teaching the new NEA in your school to a very high standard. I worked as an examiner and moderator for the AQA for 20 years with 27 years D&T teaching and leadership experience where many students achieved 100% for their coursework. This is based on that experience and a culmination of assessing thousands of folders coupled with industry design experience. Additionally, I have consulted for DATA, TES, V&A, Routledge, PGOnline, Doddle and the BBC. Recent additions (July 2018) include 16 extra slides to show a summary of modelling, drawing, CAD etc. and further development of the product beyond the GCSE prototype into AS/A Level territory with the outcome being a completely 3D printed prototype. August 2018 update simply adds some extra info.

This booklet is supplied in Powerpoint format and contains a range of generic sheets which can be used to produce unique design booklets for students rather than providing them with numerous blank paper or worksheet. The advantage of using booklets, aside from keeping the worksheets together, is that students take responsibility for their work and can personalise the projects. Use this with the Key Stage 3 tracking spreadsheet available separately as a way of planning and monitoring progress throughout Key Stage 3 and the booklets will form a record of learning at the end of the Key Stage. This is a generic booklet but many of the text areas are editable so you can customise it to suit your needs. A range of more specific sheets will be made available in packs so you can have a ready made scheme of work or mix and match the sheets to make a scheme of work unique to your department. PLEASE NOTE: this version is just the design booklet template and does not have the assessment tracking sheet bundled with it.

This is the first set of supporting resources for the Modular Desk Organiser project. Its is in itself a modular approach to teaching a wide range of skills for Design and Technology ay KS3 including aspects of 2D and 3D drawing, CAD modelling, CAM manufacture and rapid protoyping, orthographic projections, materials (Wood, Polymers, Paper and Card), processes, packaging, scales of production and much more. It could provide a whole year’s worth of work or aspects that you want to cover can be taken from it and added to the design booklet template which is available separately. This set also contains maths and science worksheets which can be used for class work or to set as prep/homework. Several approaches can be taken to using this scheme of work and a range of outcomes is possible. Images of real outcomes are provided for reference and a step by step guide to CAD modelling using SketchUp is also available.

This resource consists of the files and assembly instructions for a custom designed lightweight art and craft box. It has a small writing shelf which can also be used as a lightbox with a suitable light source and there is an ‘inlet’ to feed in a USB hub or other wiring. All the parts can be laser cut with the optional handle clip, cable tidy and example tray supplied as .STL files for 3D printing. This resource is an original design but you are encouraged to design your own extras and add-ons to customise it to your individual needs. Please note: no physical materials are supplied with this resource, you have to supply your own but yo are buying this resources as an original product design. Sharing the files or adapting them to sell as your own would be a breach of copyright.

A companion resource to the examplar folder and student guide, this is a collection of slides from the theory presentation resources that can be used in support of the teaching of Component 1. If you have that resource you already have all these slides but for those who just want to address the coursework, this is a selection of relevant presentations to help. At 105 slides long, it can be used throughout Component 1 to illustrate the various stages and help students to understand the design process.

This workbook support the theory presentations for 3.2 Specialist technical principles with the focus on Timber and wood. Without the theory presentations, the content and questions may not seem as relevant, but they are structured in a way that follows the syllabus. The resource is in PowerPoint format so can be edited to suit, but a PDF version is also supplied.

These two workbooks support the compulsory theory for the AQA GCSE in D&T (8552). These workbooks are designed to match the theory presentations. Without these, the contents and questions in the workbooks may not seem as relevant, but they do address the syllabus criteria. The two workbooks are in PowerPoint format so you can edit them to suit your needs but PDF versions are also included. The resource includes: 3.1: Core Technical Principles (two workbooks)

These ‘blank’ workbook templates allow students to take notes as they wish when studying the theory based on the Cornell note taking approach. They include past paper questions from the A Level presentations so students can keep notes and complete prep/homework assignments in the same booklet. Workbooks are provided in both editable PowerPoint and printable PDF formats. Also included are two revision books that summarise or illustrate certain concepts from the theory materials.

(Updated July 2020) This is a set of lesson presentations in Powerpoint Show format which will run without having Office installed. However, they can be opened within Powerpoint and edited if you wish. Each lesson is approximately 20 slides with the following content: Lesson outcomes Introduction Main content Summary of unit Revision notes Past paper question. It is recommended to use and/or edit these presentation slides to support your own style of teaching rather than relying on them to provide all the relevant information to your students. All past papers in the slides match those in the AQA A Level tracker available and provide you with everything you need to deliver and assess theory learning for AQA A Level Design and Technology. It is recommended that they are used with this tracker to assess student progress in theory. The content of this section is based on the Hodder AQA approved A Level book. A document with the official answers from the relevant AQA mark scheme is also included with each unit.

UPDATE August 2023 Model updated with minor improvements. UPDATE April 2021: The Braille BoX is now completely 3D printed with a new snap together glueless construction. This is the Braille Box project which was created to support the GCSE exemplar folder available to purchase separately or as part of a bundle. In this ZIP file are all the parts and assembly for you to demonstrate the model in Solidworks. Also included are working drawings and renders of the project to demonstrate what can be achieved with your CAD software. Finally, all parts have already been converted to .stl format so you can 3D print your own working model to support your teaching. Combined with the other supporting GCSE materials, and the exemplar folder, you have a high quality resource to inspire pupils and to help them aspire to achieving the highest level at GCSE.

Update: Mark scheme added for the past paper and other questions in the lessons. A set of 15 lessons in editable Powerpoint Show format which cover the teaching of Polymers. run in PP show, or open within Powerpoint to edit. Each lesson includes a lesson outcome, introduction, summary of the unit and revision tips as well as links to maths and science and a suggested practical activity. Questions and past paper questions are matched to those in the AQA DT tracker (recently updated) so you can deliver theory as well as assessing knowledge and tracking progress. You only need to cover ONE material group in depth so use this resource with the GCSE compulsory theory bundle available separately which covers all of the compulsory learning units 3.1 and 3.2.

This is a new resource designed to encourage students of design and business to undertake an enterprise initiative to better understand the links between the two subjects. It takes the form of a board game so it will appeal to students, but it is simply a graphical illustration of the process with a range of supporting documents; some of which are optional for the teachers to introduce additional challenges. All files are supplied ready to print at school with instructions on how to make the physical resources. An editable Excel spreadsheet and Photoshop document are included so you can make your own challenges, suggestions, setbacks and opportunities. A range of ready made cards are also provided should you wish to get started right away. This is supported by a Powerpoint presentation for the teacher/instructor and a printable workbook/logbook for the students or teams to record their progress. Also included are the files required to print and make the DICE cardholder and gamepieces.

This is a resource designed specifically to support the teaching of Design and Technology at KS3 via remote learning. Rather than adapting an old classroom resource to try and teach remotely, this resource takes advantage of the situation to provide a unique learning experience. Students can learn many of the skills an industrial designer needs to work in industry often in a different location to manufacturing facilities. A wide range of skills and techniques can be incorporated into this project making it adaptable for a range of ages, abilities and environments. Several of these are suggested in the supporting documents. The resource currently consists of a 52 page Powerpoint Show (Office not required to view), a 34 page PDF SketchUp tutorial document and three files for cutting the components. A printable packaging net is also included as well as a template for a paper diffuser should students wish to take that option. We have also included a shortened version of the 40 page workbook that is designed to be used in Powerpoint so no need to print off paper copies. Hopefully this will inspire you to develop your own format and aid the move to a digital format in the future. The laser cutting files are in Adobe Illustrator format but the program is currently free to use for a few months so you can use it as it is or just to export to DXF or other format you may need during the trial period if you don’t already own and use this software.

When we all return to school why not celebrate being back with your colleagues by getting a ‘round in’…non-alcoholic of course. This is a slot together system made from 4mm laser ply. It is in Adobe Illustrator format but you can easily use the trial version (if you dont already own or use Illustrator) to get it into a DXF format for other programs such as 2D Design. The logo and text can be changed to suit your school or work. Enjoy a coffee!

This is a free unit to introduce the format of the A Level theory lessons which are Power Point Show presentations for each aspect of the A Level sylllabus with past paper questions for each topic supported in the A Level tracker which is also available. They cover 60 hour long lessons with three more for mock exams. This resource will make a comprehensive guide to the theory with ongoing assessment and tracking of the theory and NEA aspects of the course. Further units will be made available then bundled together into more cost effective units.