Curriculum

Engineering

The Subject Way

Our subject has a ‘Subject Way’ at the heart of it. Our Subject Way is designed to help students become young subject specialists. The Subject Way has two main purposes:

Firstly, to teach students the vital skills they need to achieve their full potential and gain the very best grades they can. Secondly, to teach students how each subject relates to the wider world, incorporating the life skills they will learn.

It is our belief that knowing how what you learn links to the wider world brings a subject to life and therefore improves overall understanding and engagement.
 

Why study Engineering?

THIS COURSE IS A MAINLY PRACTICAL BASED QUALIFICATION THAT WILL DEVELOP YOUR ABILITY TO MANUFACTURE ENGINEERED PRODUCTS BY USING A WIDE RANGE OF HAND AND MACHINE SKILLS.

You will develop skills that will enable you to contribute to many disciplines and open up career paths including sciences, design, engineering, manufacturing and teaching. This course is also a desirable qualification for students wishing to take on an engineering apprenticeship post 16

What will I learn about?

In this WJEC course we will teach you how to analyse an engineered product to identify manufacturing criteria such as the correct material to be used.

You will learn how to read engineering drawings and be able to create a working plan of instructions that could be used to make the product from. You will then learn how to complete a range of both hand and machine operations such as turning, milling, brazing, casting and welding so that you can independently produce products from your plans.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1 (engineering design) The purpose of this unit is for learners to analyse engineered products in order to propose design solutions to meet requirements.

Unit 2 (practical unit) The purpose of this unit is for learners to use their practical skills developed to produce an engineered product of the exam board’s choice.

Unit 3(written exam) The purpose of this exam is for learners to use their knowledge and understanding of engineering processes and material properties to solve problems.

Unit 3 (examined unit) The purpose of this unit is for learners to understand the characteristics of a range of engineering materials and their use in engineered products. Alongside this they will learn about the wider role engineering has on the world we live in, from the analysis of current products through to the environmental impact the use of materials have on the planet

What do employers think about the subject?

Practically everything man-made has had some input from engineers in terms of its design and creation – and often in its maintenance and improvement too. The modern world couldn’t function without them.

Engineers can work in different industries. Most industries need engineers from a range of different disciplines for the different knowledge and skills that they bring.

Key engineering industries include:

● aeronautical (flight)
● automotive (road vehicles)
● built environment (buildings and infrastructure)
● chemicals (manufacturing substances on a large scale)
● defence
● electronics
● energy
● fast-moving consumer goods (manufacturing items such as snack foods and cleaning products)
● marine (ships)
● materials and metals (developing new materials or improving existing ones)
● pharmaceuticals
● rail
● telecoms
● utilities (covering water, sewerage, energy and telecoms)

What are the skills I will gain?

  • You will gain skills in measuring and marking out accurately
  • Reading and interpreting drawings and diagrammatic information
  • Working with high accuracy
  • Manufacturing products to exact sizes and tolerances
  • Milling
  • Casting
  • Lathe skills

Year -by-Year Subject Breakdown

In Year 9 your child will study:

  • How products are manufactured in industry
  • How to interpret technical information to manufacture products
  • How to use Adobe Inventor 3D CAD package
  • Various materials and their properties
  • How to use a range of metalworking machinery
  • How to communicate ideas in a professional manner

 

Your child’s progress will be assessed using in-class quizzes and tests, summative assessments at the end of each half term and a cumulative test at the end of the year, which will test everything they have learnt throughout Year 9

In Year 10 your child will study:

  • How to interpret technical information to manufacture products
  • How to use a range of metalworking machinery
  • Revision of topics covered in Y10 in preparation for their final examination
  • Their unit 1 and 2 coursework tasks

 

Your child’s progress will be assessed using in-class quizzes and tests, summative assessments at the end of each half term and a mock exam at the end of the year, which will test everything they have learnt throughout Year 10

In Year 11 your child will study:

  • Their unit 1 and 2 coursework tasks.
  • Revision of topics covered in Y10 in preparation for their final examination

 

Your child’s progress will be assessed using in-class quizzes and tests, summative assessments at the end of each half term and mock exams at two set points during the year, which will test everything they have learnt throughout Year 11.