Sixth Form: Textiles

Subject Overview

An interest in fashion and fabrics, designing and making are key aspects of this AS course.  The course extends GCSE Design and Technology coursework and allows students to develop their creativity and presentation skills. This A Level is a practical course that allows you to explore your creative side. The main purpose of textiles is to develop your ability to appreciate the visual world and respond in a personal and creative way. You’ll find out about a whole range of different media, techniques and processes, from fibres to computers, allowing you to express yourself in a range of different ways. The emphasis in this course is learning by doing, so you’ll be able to create imaginative personal work.

This is a course, which has been designed especially for students to become independent and self-motivated learners. You will research and study a range of different artists, designers and cultures to inspire your own creative and technical development. You will be given the exciting responsibility to gather first hand research to inspire you to explore and express different themes.

Syllabuses (Course Outline and Structure)

The textiles course includes

• The use of a wide variety of fabrics and components. Traditional and modern fabrics are considered, and a growing emphasis on the understanding of smart materials for the future will form the basis of exciting discussions about fashion and fabrics of the future and how these will affect our daily lives. 
• The development of embellishment techniques using a variety of printing and machine produced methods including computer aided design and craft decorative techniques using dyes and fabrics. 
• Design skills will be developed and the consideration of the client is an important focus, moving students from designing for personal interest into consideration of design for commercial purposes. The work of designers, past and present, together with artists will form an important part of the course to develop critical thinking and provide a focus for the development of innovative and creative personal skills and confidence when presenting ideas to a range of audiences.
• The use of ICT is essential as both a design tool and an aid to the manufacturing process

Specification

AS Qualification: Year 1

The AS course includes the following 2 elements:

• Coursework: A project showing the development of design and make skills. This is 50% of the AS level.
• A written examination is taken at the end of the year to cover understanding of materials and components, design issues and understanding of product analysis. This paper is a wide test of knowledge and understanding with both compulsory and short optional questions. This is 50% of the AS level.

Resources

• AQA Website: Key Materials

Entry Requirements and Prohibited Options

Entry requirements for this course are five GCSEs at grade C or above. It is helpful if a student has studied Design & Technology or Art at GCSE level.

Activities and Trips

Trips to the V&A museumin London, for example the Ballgowns exhibition was visited by the textiles department in November 2012. The Clothes Showis an another exciting event where designers and current trends can be looked at.

Expected Costs

There may be costs involved towards purchasing fabrics for your main products.

Past Papers

The AQA web site has access to past papers which will be useful to test your knowledge.

• AQA Website: Past paper

Other Information

Textile Design could take you into a number of exciting career paths. Of course being a textile designer is a natural outcome, but there are other job prospects. Like working as an interior designer or in fashion merchandising and buying. The advertising and marketing profession always needs creative people too, as does the manufacturing industry. You could also apply this A Level to your portfolio of skills as a teacher.

For further information please contact Miss Barwell, Curriculum Leader: Technology or Mrs Leydon.