In Year 7, students are introduced to textiles through learning basic key practical skills such as hand sewing, template making and health & safety. All Year 7 students design and create their very own individual textiles puppet based on a character.

In Year 8, the textiles project is based around developing key practical skills through independent learning. Students design and make a personalised cushion that displays a variety of textile techniques.

In Year 9, students focus on developing their independent learning skills through planning and creating their individual textiles project. Students experiment with a wide range of textile techniques and with a variety of media.

Art and Design: Textiles - (Edexcel 1TE0)

GCSE textiles is made up of three projects: protection, communication and self expression. The latter continues into Year 11 until the end of the autumn term. There is also an exam unit beginning in the January of Year 11. Each project is designed to help students to become a creative practitioner, responding to themes by making textiles based artwork. Students will be encouraged to use in depth research and analysis alongside practical studies to build exciting and creative responses to the themes.

Assessment

The course is made up of two components:

Component 1 is personal portfolio – students will produce a work journal that will contain all the information that they gather, in samples, drawings and pictures they have selected together with notes about the information and skills they have acquired.

Component 2 is an externally set assignment, with a set theme, where students evidence all previous learning.

Homework

Homework could be practical work or a written evaluation about their work. The textiles room will be available to GCSE students regularly after school. Past students have found that doing a little but often is a good way to manage building up their portfolio.

Textile Design - Edexel 9TE0

Textile design encourages an experimental approach in all aspects of art & design in relation to textiles, with an emphasis on communicating ideas visually with a high level of skill. You will have the opportunity to work in 2D and 3D formats through producing ideas/sample pieces in sketch books, as well as various artworks including professional garments and textile products.

Textile design will appeal to students who are interested in fine art, textiles, costume and interior design and fashion. This course will develop your creativity, allowing you to experiment with many different processes whilst building a portfolio of work that will help you to develop professional skills as an artist or designer. All techniques and skills are taught through practical demonstrations by teachers with specialist experience in the industry.

For a textiles student to become an artist they must begin to know and understand the art world. Indepth research and psychology frameworks are introduced so that each student can become an independent learner to broaden their vocabulary and knowledge.

The work that you create will stand for itself as a work of art and not necessarily as a product or functional item. Within this highly creative A level you will learn how to use textiles to depict, describe and portray everything from the conceptual to the hyper real in both surprising and creative ways. Understanding sequential development and how to problem solve will help you to push the boundaries of what textiles could be.

For more information about this subject at KS5, please click here and go to the relevant subject leaflet.