Year 10 Design + Technology
Mastering Resistant Materials
Resistant Materials is one of the two specialist D+T pathways we offer at IGCSE, alongside Graphic Products. This course equips students with essential skills that designers use in material selection and processing. Through a blend of theoretical lessons and hands-on practical work, students gain a comprehensive understanding of various materials — including woods, metals, plastics and modern smart materials — and their working properties.
A key focus of the course is practical application, ensuring students develop the confidence to use different materials effectively in design. From learning about construction materials to understanding processes like welding, our students immerse themselves in real-world design and manufacturing experiences.
In addition to regular lessons, students are actively engaged in their IGCSE coursework lighting project, which accounts for 50% of their final grade. This project challenges them to identify a lighting-related issue and develop a creative solution through iterative design. They refine their ideas through concept sketching before bringing their designs to life using our computer-aided manufacturing facilities.
Next week, our students will take their learning beyond the classroom with a visit to IKEA, where they will analyse domestic lighting products and explore innovative design approaches. This hands-on research will inspire their own creative solutions as they move forward in their design journey.
