Engineering

Curriculum Intent

WJEC Level1/2 Engineering

Engineering is a driving force in the UK’s economy, accounting for 21.4% (£1.2 trillion) of the UK’s £5.7 trillion turnover in 2018.  However, there is a considerable shortage of appropriately skilled workers in the engineering sector. One of the reasons for this is due to a lack of awareness among young people of the educational routes into engineering occupations, despite the fact that pursuing STEM subjects remains a priority for many young people, and, according to Engineering UK, the proportion of young people aged 11 to 14 who said they would consider a career in engineering was 54.7% in 2019.  

The Vocational Award in Engineering has been designed to support learners in schools and colleges who want to learn about this vocational sector and the potential it can offer them for their careers or further study. It is most suitable as a foundation for further study. This further study would provide learners with the opportunity to develop a range of specialist and general skills that would support their progression to employment.

The course is split into three units:

• Unit 1 provides learners with the opportunity to interpret different types of engineering information in order to plan how to manufacture engineering products.  Learners will develop knowledge, understanding and skills in using a range of engineering tools and equipment in order to manufacture and test an end product.
• Unit 2 allows learners to explore how an engineered product is adapted and improved over time, and it offers learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to adapt an existing component, element or part of the engineering outcome that they manufactured for Unit 1.
• Unit 3 introduces learners to a range of considerations that impact on engineering design and how modern engineering has had an impact on modern day life at home, work and in society in general.

Year 10 Curriculum Overview

Year 11 Curriculum Overview

Key Stage 4 useful resources

• U3 Google Classroom document links
• U3 Google Classroom video links (YouTube, etc)
• Reading list provided through the introduction project
• Candidate pack for U1 and U2 coursework

Enrichment Opportunities

Clubs

• No specific clubs for KS4 but encouraged to help with KS3 clubs, 3D printing and RAE projects.

Trips

• No trips are run for KS4 Engineering at present.

Visitors

• STEMnet for some career talks and presentations.
• Careers talks through RAE and other small projects.