A level product design without DT GCSE

[Ichangedmynameonce]

My DS is in year 11. Bright, doesn't want university currently but likely to do A levels.

He regrets not doing DT GSCE and is interested in product design A level.

Does anyone have experience of doing this without GCSE? is it a bad idea?

Thanks

Hi OP DT/PD is not my area but I would think there is a fair chance that PD is one of the A levels that you cannot do without the GCSE. Ofc this is up to the school. This list would for sure include MFL, maths, geography, Eng lit IMHO.

But yy there are A levels that you can pick up without doing GCSE - history is one example that I know of and obvs all the subjects not often offered at GCSE (sociology, gov/pol).

I would ask the school tbh. Does he do another creative subject where he could evidence similar skills? What about PD A level interests him? Could he do some of the GCSE work out of school to show aptitude and keep his skills up?

Thank you. We'll speak to them at the open evening, would just be useful to hear experiences of doing this. Thank you 😊

I know people who did do it without the GCSE and it wasn't an issue at their school.

Thanks @lostinlego do you know if they struggled? Thanks

They got an A in I think, they were already into making things so that helped. I'm sure if you have a genuine interest in the subject and prepared to work it won't be an issue.

Dd did product design A level and did well in it. She had done graphic design at gcse which I’m not sure counts as DT or not but the actual title I think was graphic design………but I seem to remember when she did the gcse she could choose whether to do graphic design or other more hands on type design stuff??? I’ll ask her later today.

anyway regardless of the gcse title it was very much graphic design only, and the product design A level was very different. She had to design and build a piece of furniture. She enjoyed the A level and didn’t struggle at all.

My DD is doing Alevel product design and didn’t do GCSE DT. Hasn’t been an issue.

Dd did electronics GCSE and got a A at product design Level.
Ds is doing product design without GCSE too.

Thank you all, very reassuring