A Level Design Technology (Block B)

Applications Open: - Friday 7 November 2025

Applications Close: - Sunday 15 February 2026

Entry Requirements: - Dependent on course

How to Apply: - Please visit our website to make your application using the Applicaa system https://www.welcometonsfg.org.uk/sixthform/

WHY THIS COURSE:

A-Level Design & Technology bridges creativity and real-world problem-solving, teaching you how to transform ideas into tangible products. You develop high-demand practical skills—including 3D CAD modelling, rapid prototyping, and advanced material processing—alongside critical engineering theory.

DT fosters user-centered design, sustainability awareness, and commercial innovation. Unlike purely theoretical subjects, 50% of your grade comes from a hands-on Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) portfolio, allowing you to showcase real creative freedom. It is the ideal stepping stone for degrees and careers in engineering, architecture, industrial design, robotics, and product management, equipping you with portfolio-ready project experience employers and universities actively seek.

STUDENT PROFILE:

Students must have achieved at least a 5 in GCSE Maths – maths accounts for around 15% of the examination, and at least a 4 in English this is needed for writing extended detailed design portfolios (NEA) and essay-based exam questions

50% examination – 2 exams at the end of year 2:

Paper One – Technical Principles – 30%

Paper Two – Designing and Making Principles – 20%

Non Examined Assessment – 50%

GENERIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: 5 GCSE grades 4-9 including English Language

SUBJECT SPECIFIC ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Grade 5 in Maths and DT (if taken, if not taken then in a related subject eg Art or Engineering), 5 GCSE’s grade 4 - 9

An A-Level in Design and Technology (DT) opens doors across higher education, vocational training, and immediate career pathways. Because it combines hands-on practical skills with technical theory, maths, and project management, it leads into both creative and technical fields

Degrees in areas such as: Product & Industrial Design: Product Design, Product Design Engineering, Sustainable Design, Transport/Automotive Design.

Engineering Disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Design Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics & Robotics.

Built Environment: Architecture, Interior Architecture & Design, Architectural Engineering, Building Surveying, Urban Planning.

Digital & Interactive Design: User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) Design, Game Design & Development, Creative Technologies, Digital Media Production.

Creative Arts & Media: Graphic Communication, Set & Stage Design, Model Making, Furniture Design, Fashion & Apparel Technology.

Degree Apprenticeships & Vocational Routes: If you prefer earning while learning, DT skills transfer directly into Degree Apprenticeships (Level 6/7) in industries such as:

Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering: Apprenticeships with companies like Dyson, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Jaguar Land Rover.

Civil Engineering & Construction: CAD Technician, Structural Engineering Apprentice, or BIM (Building Information Modelling) Specialist.

Product Development: Junior CAD Designer, Prototyping Specialist, or Toolmaker.

This is just a selection of what’s available to you.