GCSE Design and Technology - Teaching from 2026

The construct of the GCSE Design and Technology qualification is based on the Welsh Government subject specific considerations for Science and Technology. 

The qualification will:

• through the design and development process, allow learners to explore and respond to 
  various contexts and to reflect on their own work while engaging in rich, authentic 
  experiences. 

The following statements for the GCSE Design and Technology qualification are based on the Welsh Government statements of what matters for Science and Technology:

• being curious and searching for answers is essential to understanding and predicting phenomena
• design thinking and engineering offer technical and creative ways to meet society’s needs and wants
• the world around us is full of living things which depend on each other for survival
• matter and the way it behaves defines our universe and shapes our lives
• forces and energy provide a foundation for understanding our universe
• computation is the foundation for our digital world.

The GCSE Design and Technology qualification will support the Curriculum for Wales by supporting the principles of progression by:

• increasing effectiveness as a learner by developing application of skills
• increasing breadth and depth of knowledge by exploring and experiencing increasingly complex ideas and concepts
• deepening understanding of the ideas and disciplines and experience
• developing learners’ ability to investigate, explore, problem-solve and design both in the physical and digital environments
• allowing learners to make connections and transfer their learning into new contexts