ABOUT THIS COURSE

This intensive one-day course will focus on skills, strategies and techniques that will improve performance in AQA GCSE Design & Technology. In particular, the course will focus on outstanding teaching and learning strategies and how these contribute to achieving the highest grades, improving exam performance and methods of maximising performance in the non-exam assessment (NEA).

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

  • Identify key elements of assessment criteria and how these contribute to success at all levels
  • Know how to select and implement a delivery structure so that all students can grades 6-9 at GCSE
  • Develop the ability to deliver consistently outstanding lessons, the key to grades 7-9 success
  • Plan opportunities to embed ‘outstanding’ practice into lessons
  • Improve attainment in GCSE exams l Sharing good practice
  • Take away strategies and resources for excellent lessons
DATE & LOCATION In-School Only
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
  • Heads of department and teachers who are delivering the AQA GCSE Design & Technology Specification
  • Teachers who are considering changing to AQA GCSE Design & Technology specification
COURSE CODE 8547
IN-SCHOOL You can also book this as an In-School Course
INCLUDED
  • A specially prepared folder of 50+ pages full of detailed notes, practical advice and guidance
  • Notes prepared by the educational experts leading the course
  • Expert produced PowerPoint presentations
  • CPD Certificate of attendance
  • Two course restaurant lunch
  • Refreshments throughout the day
  • Guaranteed high quality venues

10.00 – 10.30am
AQA GCSE D&T – overcoming barriers to outstanding results

  • Overview of the key issues and challenges related to the AQA GCSE specification
  • Exploring the exam boards expectations
  • Identifying the most important qualities and skills (teaching, course structure, assessment issues etc.) needed to reach 100% grades 7-9 at GCSE

10.30 – 10.50am: Discussion: coffee break

10.50 – 12.00pm
Outstanding Teaching for outstanding outcomes

  • Exploring the key elements of an outstanding lesson for AQA GCSE D & T: use of data and monitoring, objectives, outcomes, mini plenaries, challenge and differentiation, and feedback and marking
  • Encouraging independent learning through quality AfL and peer assessment approaches
  • The use of high-quality lesson plans and resources to support outstanding teaching

12.00 – 1.00pm
Raising standards: Achieving grades 7-9 in the examination

  • Identifying where students are not hitting the assessment criteria: an examiners view
  • Developing effective exam skills
  • Alternative teaching strategies and approaches to support student success

1.00 – 2.00pm: Lunch and informal discussion

2.00 – 3.00pm
Raising standards: mastering the non-exam assessment

  • Fresh ideas to reinvigorate teaching for outstanding outcomes in each section of the NEA
  • Monitoring progress & supporting students appropriately
  • How to give students the skills they need to get excellent results in the non-exam assessments
  • Alternative course structures to raise attainment

3.00 – 3.15pm: Discussion: afternoon tea

3.15 – 3.45pm
Pulling It All Together

  • Effective ‘joined-up’ teaching strategies: making connections and links in your teaching to use the NEA to improve exam performance
  • Planning for success

3.45 – 4.00pm
Questions then depart

Paul Anderson

Paul is an award-winning teacher and consultant, specialising in Engineering and Design & Technology. His students have consistently achieved outstanding value-added, typically exceeding their targets by 1.5 to 2 grades. Paul was awarded a Gatsby fellowship for his work in D&T and has had several senior examiner roles for engineering qualifications, including Principal Moderator and Chief Examiner. He has also written or co-authored sixteen Engineering and Design & Technology textbooks, along with over 100 published teaching resources.