Textiles GCSE

What is the main aim of the course?

The Textile Design course focuses on materials, techniques and processes within the textiles specialism. Its aim is to encourage students to be innovative and exciting textile designers with environmental awareness of the industry. A range of both constructed textiles and textile manipulation techniques will be taught giving students a wide range of creative skills within the field.

What will you learn?

Through Textile Design you will learn to create designs and products for woven, knitted, stitched, printed and decorative textiles that can be used both for functional or non-functional purposes, for example the creation of fashion garments or pure textile art. Drawing, annotation and photography will support work throughout all projects.

Component 1 will consist of two projects;

Project 1 - Sealife: Constructed textile. This component will focus on techniques such as knitting, weaving, crochet, felting and fabric construction as well as learning basic skills on the sewing machine. The United Nations 17 goals for sustainable development will underpin the learning throughout this project.

Project 2 - Africa: Fabric Manipulation. This project will focus on techniques such as screen printing, Batik, silk painting, fabric manipulation through stitch, rust dying and photography and digital manipulation.

In year 11 you will complete a mini mock to prepare you for component 2. This will be an opportunity for you to work independently to gain experience of the exam process.

Component 2 will take place in the spring term of year 11. This is an externally Set Assignment. Students respond to a starting point from the set paper. They will have a fixed preparatory period to allow them to plan and execute a final outcome in a 10 hour controlled assessment over two days in the art department. 

How is the course assessed?

Textile Design is 100% coursework, comprising of two components 
Component 1: Portfolio, 60%
Component 2: Externally Set Assignment, 40%
The four assessment objectives that you will be assessed against are;
AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language.

How does this course connect to the world of work and allow students to reach ambitious destinations?

Students will have learnt core skills through the development, refinement, recording and  realisation of their ideas. They will have demonstrated problem solving and be proficient in a varied range of practical textiles skills, including using a sewing machine effectively. Students will also have a clear understanding of environmental responsibility within the textile industry which is at the forefront of all modern, ethical textile companies. This course will give students a strong grounding for any level 3 design course at W6 which could lead the way to a large range of Fashion, Textile and Design degrees, a lot of which include a 3rd year working in industry, enabling students to travel around the world to gain valuable experience within the textile field.

Who do you need to contact if you have any further questions about this course?

Ms Charlotte Rolfe-Pigg, crolfe-pigg@srwa.woodard.co.uk.