Textiles Design

Textiles Design is part of the Design Technology Faculty which comprises Product Design, Food Technology & Nutrition, and Textile Design and is a core subject in Years 7, 8 and 9. Students have a carousel of these subjects and have four periods per fortnight. We offer students the opportunity to study GCSE Textiles Design in Years 10 and 11, and A'Level Textiles Design in Years 12 and 13. Further details about the A'Level course are available on the Sixth Form website.

Vision

Textiles Design is ideal for students who enjoy a hands-on practical experience such as drawing, designing and physically making their final practical solutions. While some written, critical and analytical skills are also required, the emphasis of the course is on the development and refinement of practical work. Textiles help us decorate our homes and adorn our bodies but also provide essential life skills. When studying Textiles we are able to research the rich cultural history of patterns and fabrics and the strong and steady influences of Artists and Designers onto the subject. Students follow a program that supports them through researching a theme or concept that will then inspire a stage of creative experimentation using a variety of textiles techniques and materials. From there the student will formulate ideas on relating to that theme that are then refined and developed into designs. The final stage of the process is to create a unique and innovative final practical outcome that fully satisfies their objective and is a personal and meaningful response.

Textiles Design Learning Journey

This is a visual representation of how students' knowledge and skills develop through the Textiles Design curriculum.

(click on the image below to view a larger version)

Why Study Textiles Design at GCSE?

Textile Design could lead to a wide range of jobs such as fashion designing, interior designing, costume design, retailing, hotel, tourist and leisure industries, craft industries and scientific textiles development. If you are interested in any aspect of the Fashion, Textiles and Art then this is the course for you.

Textile Design enables you to:

• Explore a range of textile media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies.
• Investigate relevant images, artefacts and resources relating to art and design from the past and from recent times, including European and non-European examples.
• Create practical and critical activities which demonstrate understanding of different styles, genres and traditions.
• Candidates may use sketchbooks/workbooks/ journals/ portfolio to develop drawn designs and present practical skills and the importance of process as well as a final outcome.

Starting in Year 10 candidates will cover projects where you will be developing ideas through investigations and research, refining ideas through experimenting and learning techniques and processes and recording ideas. Candidates will present a meaningful and informed response to each project in the form of a final piece or a textile product.

Candidates will be introduced to a variety of experiences including:-

• fashion
• costume design
• printed and dyed materials
• constructed and applied textiles
• embellished textiles

GCSE Assessment

Unit 1 Controlled Assessment – work undertaken during course of study and must include more than one project – the work is set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA – 60%
Unit 2 15 hours of sustained focused study – unlimited preparation time - Question papers issued from January – of Y11 candidates respond to their chosen starting point - the work is set and marked by the centre and moderated by AQA – 40%

GCSE Textile Design exam specification information