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’.

A completed AS and A Level project checklist ideal for digital folders. The sections can be changed to suit the centre, subject or syllabus. Ideal for producing a matching digital folder or as a checklist for NEA work.

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’.

This PDF is intended as a guide for students to help them through their NEA in the new GCSE Design and Technology. It is a 32-page printable booklet which can be used digitally or is ideal for an A5 size pamplet (using just 8 sheet of A4). It has no worksheets or questions but describes each section of the NEA with illustrations taken from the accompanying exemplar folder which is available separately or as part of a bundle at a reduced price. Because this is a generic guide linked to a sample context, it does not constitute a writing frame so can be given to students to support them in their GCSE NEA. It is designed to support the AQA syllabus but can be used for other examination boards.

This PDF is intended as a guide for Advanced Level students to help them through their NEA tasks in AQA Product Design but much of the guide could be used for other specialisms. While similar in format to the GCSE guide available here, it does have A Level specific material and addresses all the Assessment Objectives for AS and A Level. It is ideal for giving to students in a digital format or as a printed phamplet style booklet to provide an easy to use and understand overview of the NEA.

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 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.

These resources are additional ‘breakout’ style lessons to support the various aspects of the course. This resource consists of: EX1: Introduction to lateral thinking EX2: Products and prototypes EX3: An ugly prototype EX4: Development methodology EX5: Ergonomics EX6: Communication methods These will be included in the full bundle. Additional lessons will be added in due course and there may be a price increase but anyone buying the resource will get these free of charge.

This workbook support the theory presentations for 3.2 Specialist technical principles with the focus on metals and alloys. 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.

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 textiles. 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.

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. 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.

BLOK is a new type of STEM ‘building block’ intended for educational use and also developed for commercial production and sale. **UPDATE **(June 2023). The 3D files for the basic BLOK/BLOX are now included in the resource. PLEASE NOTE: The BLOK product is not yet available to buy in retail stores, but the 3D files will be shared in a forthcoming resource, and the resource has instructions on how to make your own components. This resource uses the BLOK as a case study to cover many aspects of the design and manufacturing processes used in Design and Technology and 3D Art. It is not a linear resource and you can refer to any of the units at any time for reference or as tutorials. Using the BLOK product as a reference, the resource contains 20 separate units covering the following topics: BLOK1: Introduction to the BLOK resource BLOK2: The story of BLOK BLOK3: Investigation and research BLOK4: The iterative design process BLOK5: Modular approaches to design BLOK6: Sketching with BLOX BLOK7: CAD modelling BLOK BLOK8: Materials for manufacturing BLOK BLOK9: Prototyping BLOK BLOK10: Manufacturing BLOK BLOK11: Branding, packaging, and promotion BLOK12: Enterprise and Intellectual Property BLOK13: Testing and evaluation BLOK14: Functions of BLOK BLOK15: Developing for BLOK BLOK16: Advanced sketching with BLOX BLOK17: Advanced CAD modelling BLOK BLOK18: Sustainability in design BLOK19: Modelling BLOK with SketchUp BLOK20: Digital sketching and composition It also includes one extra unit*: BLOKEX1: Joe Blox Solidworks tutorial The units are provided in print and presentation friendly PDF format along with supporting high quality JPEG illustrations and posters. *Additional units may be added to the resource in the future.

Update February 2022: A mark scheme has been added to help with assessment of the theory questions A set of 22 lessons in editable Powerpoint Show format divided into units which match the specification. Each lesson in the unit includes a lesson outcome, introduction, summary of the lesson and revision tips as well as links to maths and science. 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.

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.

A free resource for adding feedback to students for practical work/controlled assessment/NEA. It is in a digital format so it can be added to a VLE or online storage for access by student and teacher. The teacher completes the blue and green sections while the student completes the pink section.

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!