GCSE design and technology coursework panic!!

[Justmoveon]

Ds is year 11 studying design and technology. He is very disorganised but quite talented with woodwork. He has left everything to the last minute but spent Easter in his grandfathers garage making a wooden prototype. All work must be submitted this week but I have now realised that all practical work should be done under supervision. He has taken photos of his work in progress but I’m now panicking that he will be disqualified for not doing at school. He seemed to be completely unaware that he couldn’t make things out of school until I read the AQA guidance and it has turned us into a spin. It is too late to go into school to make again. Anyone got any knowledge? His written work and designs are really good.

If it’s too late to redo he’ll just have submit and hope for the best, no point stressing at this point.

If it was meant to get done under supervision wouldn't the teachers realise that he hadn't done anything at school.

I thought this too but when I asked my son he said that the teacher hasn’t asked once where his final project was. He has just been making 3d and cardboard prototypes at school but wanted the final piece to be made in wood.

Has he not had any support from school? Was it not discussed at parents' evening or in his reports? Seems pretty slack of the school to just leave him to his own devices if the work needs to be supervised!

The teachers are the only ones who can provide you with the info you need. Good luck!

At parents evening in February I expressed my concern that he was behind with his coursework and she reassured me that was on course but he had only sketched designs at this time. He has chosen something very ambitious so really I’m surprised that the teacher has had no input in advising him on how was going to achieve it. I feel really worried that his work could be disqualified.

I’m sure your son would have been told multiple times the condition of the coursework. Seems a little unfair to blame the teachers. What has everyone else done?

The final product does not have to be made at school.
But the teacher must be able to "confidently authenticate the candidate's work".
I have known welded products to be submitted and accepted as pictures/photographs of the pupil making were in place. (there may have been video evidence as well)
The same with 3D printed products that had to be made professionally and had all of the designs in the coursework.
In the end it is down to whether the teacher is confident that the work will be accepted.
It willl also depend on when the final submission date is/was.

I suspect that the submission date will have been before easter, as DT teachers tend to mark during easter, especially when its early, As they need to get the marks back to pupil's and possibly review, remark and then submit sometime around May 4th.

Thanks @FrippEnos. Deadline is next Monday so he is just finishing everything off. I know it really is his/our fault for not being aware but ds is sure that it was never mentioned. I’m going to try and encourage him to speak to his teacher this week but suspect it’s all too late now.

Surely his teacher knows what he is working on and doing. I would find it strange for this to have not been discussed.

Generaly the coursework will be tracked closely, using whatever menthod the teacher prefers.

Most track using RAG on a spreadsheet with each section coloured for the completed work, this is often backed up with guidance from the teacher.

what would concern me about the teacher is that no practical work other than modeling appears to have been completed by Febuary half term.

But depending on the specification it may be that the teacher has confirmation from the AQA link person that a model is all that is required as long as manufacturing techniques are listed and have been holistically proven and evidence supplied.

Phone the teacher and set your mind to rest and advocate for your son
do not continue to stress out disorganised son by expecting him to have this convo with the teacher and to relay it back to you

also don’t jump to conclusions. Speak to the teacher. And ask them what they need to support the submission.

The ‘disorganised’ son should be having the conversation with his teacher. ‘Disorganised’ doesn’t let him off the hook!

We don’t know if he’s done anything wrong / there even is a problem though. Whilst I get the son should be responsible for these things in general sometimes it’s good for parents to step in and ensure alignement/ help and support them.