This vocational qualification fulfils the entry requirements for academic and vocational study post-16, and will count as equivalent to one GCSE in the Key Stage 4 performance tables.
You will enjoy this course if you want to study materials in a practical way and understand the working properties of woods, metals and polymers. It will enable you to work in a hands-on way to develop the core skills you need to make high-quality products using woods, metals and polymers.
You will have the opportunity to use traditional skills and also modern technologies.
This Technical Award in Materials Technology will help you develop knowledge, skills and experience that could potentially open the door to a career in related industries.
COURSE CONTENT
Unit 1: Skills demonstration (internally assessed)
• 30% of the overall qualification
• You will carry out a number of bite-sized projects to demonstrate your competence in 12 core skills. This will include the transferable skill of teamwork and one of the mini projects should allow for this. You will produce a series of small made outcomes and record your work in a portfolio of no more than 12 pages.
Unit 2: Extended making project (internally assessed)
• 30% of the overall qualification
• You will undertake an extended making project that showcases the skills and knowledge you have developed in Unit 1 and the knowledge you have developed through Unit 3. The project will be in response to a design brief.
• You will develop skills in planning, development, making, testing, evaluation and communication.
Unit 3: Fundamentals of Materials Technology (externally assessed)
• 40% of the overall qualification
• You will study materials and their working properties and learn about processes and manufacture. You will gain knowledge of the applications and characteristics of a wide range of woods, metals and polymers and also learn about possible careers within industry.
ASSESSMENT
• Coursework portfolio – 60% (units 1 and 2)
• Exam (1 ½ Hours) – 40% (to take place in the summer term)