Engineering (BTEC)

INTENT

Subject Vision:

Design and Technology and Engineering is about providing opportunities for students to develop their capability, apply their problem solving skills combined with their designing and making skills whilst using knowledge and understanding to create quality engineered products/services.

How the Engineering curriculum fits into our Whole School Vision:

Broad – BTEC Engineering offers an engaging and stimulating introduction into the world of Engineering and Technology, giving students the opportunity to develop knowledge, design and technical skills. Students explore some of the key areas within the Engineering disciplines and sectors including Aerospace, Automotive, Communications, Mechanical, Civil, Transport, Marine, Biomedical, Environmental and Chemical.

Stimulating – Students experience STEM through hands-on activity and stimulating engineering contexts.

Enjoyable – Students have the opportunity to explore their designs and ideas through modelling in 2d and 3d media including clay and foam modelling, using resistant materials and CAD CAM to manufacture prototypes.

Engaging – We look at preparation for employment in the Engineering industry and the skills and opportunities required to progress through career paths. We have the opportunity to invite guest speakers from local engineering companies to visit school.

Motivating – Students are encouraged to research local, regional and global engineering companies as case studies when exploring how engineered products meet the needs of different clients. Students have the opportunity to assemble and disassemble engineered products to gain a hand on experience.

Challenging – The course provides a basis for progression to further study in this sector by following the BTEC National Level 3 in the Sixth Form or an apprenticeship within one of the engineering sectors.

IMPLEMENTATION

The Engineering curriculum has been designed with the intention of providing our students with the skills required to tackle the formal assessment (x2 paper external examination) in Year 11 in addition to the 2 internally assessed components across the two year course.

Teachers will present subject content clearly, promoting appropriate discussion, checking learning, identify misconceptions accurately and provide clear, direct feedback. As a result teachers will respond and adapt their teaching as necessary.

Assessments will be delivered in a way that promotes long-term memory as well as the appropriate exam technique required to respond effectively to questioning and structure exam style questions appropriately.

IMPACT

Students will make good progress against their outcomes, which will mean high attainment; a strong grounding for life in the real world, equipping them with skills such as identifying issues, problem solving, expressing ideas creatively and clearly, developing ideas and communicating these to others. Progress will be monitored against target grades, gap analysis is undertaken after formal assessments to enable staff to identify individual student’s areas of weakness and strength, enabling them to offer personalised personal checklist to improve performance.

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KS3 Technology Rotation ( set fortnightly)

• Week 1: Design an A4 poster related to the termly rotational subject ( can be hand drawn of computer generated – must include colour, imagery and keywords)
• Week 3: Keyword vocabulary based learning
• Week 5: Evaluative Summary/written based learning

KS4 Engineering:

Weekly activity sheets

Component 1

Component 2

Component 3

Year 11 Link to purchasing a replacement revision guide: Click Here

KS5 Engineering

Yr 12: Term 1& 2 weekly maths task in prep for exam, term 3,4, 5 and 6: research based tasks to inform Unit 2 Assignment

Yr 13: to research Fusion Tutorials weekly on You tube and demonstrate/share new learning  with peers

Homework is set weekly and is related to the topics studied in class, at that time. These include a variety of activities, from set questions to research, and coursework based tasks.

Check the Curriculum Year information for the homework timetable.

BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award

Engineering and manufacturing is one of the UK's broadest sectors. Almost 5.7 million people work in engineering in the UK, accounting for just over 19% of all UK employment. This qualification aims to inspire and enthuse learners to consider a career in the Engineering sector. It gives learners the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge and understanding of the engineering disciplines and sectors, developing their problems solving, design and application skills.

Students studying Level 2 BTEC Technical Award in Engineering will receive 3 timetabled lessons a week, in Year 10 and 11. Over the course of the 2 years students will study three components.

All year 10 students will be required to purchase a BTEC Tech Award Revision guide at the beginning of the course, these are available to purchase in school for a reduced price of £4.00 (subject to availability).  You can also purchase replacements copy from WHSMITH for £7.00 should it become misplaced or lost.  These revision guides are a valuable tool and are used most lessons therefore students are required to bring them to every engineering lesson throughout year 10 and year 11. 

Revision Guide - Click Here

Engineering - Course Details

BTEC Level 3 National

Engineering is a dynamic sector that offers huge potential for students. Engineering turnover was £1.1 trillion in the year ending March 2012, and the sector accounts for 24.5 per cent of the turnover of all enterprises in the UK. The UK is regarded as a world leader in engineering sectors, including renewable energy, space, low carbon, aerospace, creative industries, utilities, automotive, agri­food and bioscience. Between 2010 and 2020 engineering enterprises are projected to have 2.74 million job openings, including more than 400,000 technician roles (as the predominantly ageing workforce in this area is expected to retire in this period).

BTEC Nationals are demanding and will require you to complete a wide range of units and assessments, from examinations and written work to practical assignments. You will need to build a portfolio of the assignment work you complete, as evidence of your achievements on the BTEC. Students in Year 12 and 13 studying the Level 3 Extended Certificate in Engineering have 5 lessons a week, completing 4 units over the two year course: Unit 1 and 2 in year 12 and units 3 and 10 in year 13.  This course is challenging, but the rewards of success will have a huge positive impact on the students plans for the future; whether that is studying further, going on to work on an apprenticeship or even setting up their own business.

Engineering (Extended Certificate)

General Information (Useful information for Parents)

Students studying Level 2 Tech Award Engineering will receive 3 timetabled lessons a week, in Year 10 and 11. Over the course of the 2 years students will study 3 components.

• Component 1: 2 assignments to be completed within year 10
• Component 2: 3 assignments (start towards the end of year 10 and complete in year 11)
• Component 3: 2 eternal exam papers, revision is undertaken from September – February of year 11 (exam is in February in year 11) Students will have the opportunity to re sit this exam in the summer of Year 11. The final 3 terms of year 11 will be spent on completing component 2.

A revision/intervention timetable will be added in Term 2. The sessions are split two ways, one will focus on those students who are not achieving their target grade within the coursework (internally assessed components) and tailored bespoke sessions whereby students are invited to attend exam technique and structuring sessions. Following a formal assessment staff will identify individual students and their areas of weakness and strength, personalised personal checklists and 1-1 tutorials are offered to focus on improving exam performance.

Useful Websites

Imperial College - London

Technology Student

BBC Bitesize

Revision Guide

General Information (Useful information for Parents)

At the beginning of Year 12 students will be required to purchase a BTEC Nationals revision guide and accompanying workbook at the beginning of the course, these are available to purchase in school for a reduced price of £15.00 (subject to availability).  These revision guides are a valuable tool supporting the students in preparing for the exam elements of the course, students are required to bring them to every engineering lesson throughout Year 12 and Year 13.

Useful Websites

Imperial College - London

Revision Workbook Guide

Revision Guide

Engineering contains a large number of job opportunities and specialities. We’ve selected a list of specialities below. With each speciality, we look at the definition and nature of the work, the specialities employment trends, possibly career advancement opportunities, and hope that it is helpful for you in determining whether or not the career is right for you.

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineering is the study of the design, development, and production of air and spacecraft. This engineering discipline is often divided between those who pursue careers on the aeronautical side and those working on space craft. Both air and space vehicles contain complex subsystems that require specialists from many engineering groups such as electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering.

Agricultural Engineer

Agricultural engineering is also known as biological engineering, and it covers subjects from aquaculture (raising food sources that thrive in water), to land farming and forestry. These engineers also develop biofuels, plan animal environments, and find better food processing methods. Often they work in offices, but they are also outdoors and travelling to worksites where they oversee equipment function in agricultural settings, and assure that government regulations are met.

Automotive Engineer

Automotive engineering is one of the most exciting, challenging and rewarding careers. Whenever a customer drives a new vehicle off a dealership lot, he or she is taking with them the technical expertise of many engineers, but in particular, the automotive engineer. Automotive engineers research, design and develop vehicles and their subsystems. They work with sophisticated technologies to create products that thrill the senses and bring the freedom of mobility to the world.

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers work with a combination of biology, medicine and engineering. They are trained to analyse and design solutions that will improve patient care. They are the professionals behind sophisticated medical equipment like MRIs and microscopic surgical machines. Biomedical engineers are also responsible for research and development of medical innovations like artificial organs and prosthesis.

Chemical Engineers

Chemical engineers utilise their knowledge of the physical world to manipulate the interactions of individual atoms and molecules. Their talents are generally employed in the research and development of new materials and are critical to numerous fields including nanotechnology, energy storage, and computing. Often working alongside other engineers in interdisciplinary teams to solve humanity's greatest problems, chemical engineers are guaranteed to remain key leaders in securing our future prosperity whether on this planet or any other.

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers specialise in road, bridge, buildings and water supply system design and construction. They supervise and direct construction teams and work with other engineers. These professionals ensure that every structure built is environmentally compliant and can withstand earthquakes and hurricanes. This is especially true in places where these natural calamities often strike.

Computer Engineers

Computer Engineers develop and improve the software programs and hardware that make computers run. Computer Engineers may specialise in either software or hardware. From operating system software, such as Windows and Linux, to individual computer programs, such as Photoshop and Microsoft Office, Software Engineers turn piles of hardware into fully functional computers. Hardware Engineers develop the hardware of computers, including the motherboards, graphics and audio cards and drives that are later programmed by Software Engineers.

Drafting and Design Engineer

Drafting and Design Engineering is an exciting career that allows the engineer to be involved in all stages of the design process, from conception to presentation of the finished plans. This career requires a working knowledge of drafting and design principles, material types and properties, and manufacturing processes.

Electrical Engineer

Electrical engineers specialise in power supply and generation. They design, develop, test and supervise electrical equipment manufacturing. They have also been trained to handle responsibilities like wiring and lighting installations in buildings, automobiles and aircraft. What is great about being an electrical engineer is that the training is so extensive that graduates may land a job in many different industries such as construction, manufacturing and design.

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers use science and engineering principles to protect and improve the environment. The quality of air, water, and soil is their primary focus. They seek solutions to water-borne diseases, wastewater management, and air pollution. They work to improve recycling, waste disposal, and industrial hygiene. They analyse soil and water samples. They understand the law as it applies to protecting the environment.

Geological Engineer

Geological engineering involves geology, civil engineering, and fields such as mining, forestry and geography. These engineers apply earth sciences to human problems. Speciality areas include geotechnical site studies of rock and soil slope stability for projects; environmental studies and planning for construction sites; groundwater studies; hazard investigations; and finding fossil fuel and mineral deposits.

Marine Engineer

Marine Engineers are responsible for the design and construction of seagoing vessels and structures, focusing primarily on their internal systems. Simply put, they design the onboard electrical, environmental and propulsion systems aboard everything from oil platforms to cruise ships.

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical engineering is the study of motion, energy and force. The mechanical engineer seeks to control these elements by using a combination of material, human and economic resources to develop mechanical solutions that help satisfy the needs and wants of society.

Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers specialise in designing and developing technology and methods for digging the earth’s surface to extract oil and gas. They find means to obtain either natural gas or crude oil from the ground. In addition, petroleum engineers explore and discover new techniques to extract oil and gas from older wells all over the world.

Software Engineer

Software engineers are specialists who are in charge of the testing, design, development and maintenance of computer software for business and personal use. They apply the principles of mathematics, engineering and computer science in creating managing software.

Useful Websites - Job Opportunities

• British Engineering - Click Here
• Find an apprenticeship - Click Here
• Engineering and Manufacturing Apprenticeships - Click Here
• TFL Apprenticeships - Click Here
• RAF - Click Here
• Army - Click Here

Useful Websites - Career Related

• Engineering- Click Here
• Prospects - Click Here
• The Manufacturer - Click Here

Useful Websites for further information on careers and apprenticeships :

https://www.engineeringjobs.co.uk/

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/careers-engineering-first-steps/

https://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/students/career-finder/

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-categories/engineering-and-maintenance