NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Engineering
Why is the study of Engineering important?
Engineering is a practical and valuable subject. It enables children and young people to actively contribute to the creativity, culture, wealth and well-being of themselves and their community. It teaches how to take risks and so become more resourceful, innovative and enterprising. Students develop a critical understanding of the impact of design and technology on daily life and the wider world. Additionally, it provides excellent opportunities for students to develop and apply value judgements of an aesthetic, economic, moral, social, and technical nature both in their own designing and when evaluating the work of others.
Studying Engineering includes the use of a broad range of knowledge, skills, and understanding, and prompts engagement in a wide variety of activities. Pupil’s design and make products that solve problems within a variety of contexts. Through evaluation of past and present Design and Technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and wider world issues such as sustainability.
All around us are products, which have been engineered using creative design and problem solving with effective and skilful manufacture. This allows to help improve lives’ creating things that may have never existed before or even just make our lives more enjoyable.
Students will be able to use the skills learned in Engineering in adult life, regardless of their career choice. Design and technology will enable students to be able to be able to apply design skills in their own home and be able to apply manufacturing knowledge into DIY projects around the home. They will also be able to use, project management, time management and problem-solving skills across a wide range of jobs.
Engineering Learning Journey – VIEW
-
How will the curriculum be implemented?
At Key Stage 4, students follow an Engineering specification building on the introduction in year 9, learning in-depth how the Engineering Industry operates. Students will learn about the different engineering disciplines that make up the engineering industry and the health and safety legislation that is essential for the industry.
Students will further develop their practical skills, through manufacturing projects where students will have to use engineering drawings to manufacture to set specifications. They will build confidence and independence through solving problems given by the exam board in preparation for the synoptic internal exam.
Students will gain a more in- depth understanding of the tools and equipment they are using and why they are using them, and also gain a much more in-depth knowledge regarding the main materials, their properties and their uses. Students will also develop their technical drawing abilities, using a range of media.
The course is taught over the 2 years and is a balance of theory and practical activities.
-
About the course
Year 10 students will complete project based learning where they will build practical skills, whilst embedding the theoretical knowledge for the written exam.
In Year 11 students complete both assessed units. Unit 2, which is the NEA synoptic assessment, is worth 60% of the overall grade and is a practical based assessment, this is completed in the classroom starting around December, the students have 18 hours to complete their project. Unit 1 is a written exam which is completed at the end of Year 11.
-
How does the study of Engineering support your study in other subjects?
The range of skills and knowledge that are studied at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are relevant to many areas of employment and further areas of study. If students want to continue their Engineering based education post Y11 there are many college and university courses on offer.
Students can progress onto level 3 engineering qualifications, where they can specialise within different aspects of engineering, such as electrical, mechanical or motor vehicle.
Students may also choose to transfer their practical skills across to other subject areas such as plumbing, electrical and construction courses where they can study at college or complete on the job training through and apprenticeship.
If students prefer the design aspect of the course, they can choose to study A level Product Design, where they will focus on a more creative aspect of designing and making products.
At degree level, students can choose to study product design or specialise in engineering, such as civil, aerospace or mechanical further developing skills gained form level 3 courses.
Student Testimonial
“I love engineering because it is practical based and interesting, I like that I can get up and move around in my lessons, rather than just sat behind a desk. I like engineering because I feel I am gaining life skills for later in life.”
