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WHY STUDY THIS SUBJECT?

The A level Art Textiles course is not just about fashion, it incorporates a broad and diverse range of modern and traditional textiles skills and reflects on trends, cultures and movements in the subjects. Students will explore, refine and develop their own interests and are supported to find their own chosen path inside the subject.

Textiles students will learn skills for working with fabric to produce their own creative outcomes, stretching their imagination and understanding of textiles.

They will look at a variety of topics including fashion design and illustration, costume design, constructed textiles, printed and dyed textiles, stitched and/or embellished textiles, surface pattern, soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors, digital textiles, installed textiles and then be encouraged to direct their work towards one or a range of these specialisms.

During the course, Art Textiles students will develop a repertoire of skills to enable them to explore a variety of traditions and cultures around the world and their role in influencing the designers of the biggest trends of today.

Students are given freedom to explore their interests.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

You will need to be able to  demonstrate an interest in
Textiles. You should have a minimum GCSE Grade 4 in either Art and Design, Textiles or Design and Technology. We are open to other applicants with a portfolio on a case by case basis.

It is important that you enjoy the challenge of working on longer-term sustained creative projects in a design context. You should have a passion for discovering fashion trends and new textile techniques, clothing and other items and be keen to advance your knowledge of designers and artists in order to develop your own creativity and expertise.

SYLLABUS

YEAR 12 (Continuing into YEAR 13)

Unit 1: Personal investigation – Internally and externally assessed

Students, with the support of the class teacher, decide on a context they would like to explore inside the Textiles syllabus.

During this extended project, they will carry out a range of research activities to explore their context, including; museum visits, photography, trend analysis, designer/artist analysis and other first and secondary research as appropriate to their own projects.

Students select to work in decorative techniques of their own choice and use these to enable them to develop, refine, record, realise their ideas. Their work is presented of their ideas through a portfolio and development of an outcome/s to demonstrate.

Students are also required to create an in-depth study into the work of a designer or artist whose work will compliment and influence their own projects.

They will be required to submit a 1000-3000 word essay to present their findings.

YEAR 13

Unit 2: Exam Unit – Internally and externally assessed

The exam board set the question papers for this unit.

These will consist of a choice of five questions to be used as a starting point and students are required to select one to investigate.

Preparatory work, as with unit one, is completed in a portfolio (or other appropriate format), where students will be required to demonstrate the same stages of development as in
Unit 1: Research, refinement and analysis.

The outcome for this unit is completed in exam conditions over 15 hours. 

Students will be expected to create a meaningful response during this time.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED AND EXAMINED?

Art Textiles is a linear A level. All work is assessed at the end of two years.

All other additional work will be created in class or outside of lessons and will be marked in line with AQA guidelines.

FUTURE COURSES AND POSSIBLE CAREERS

Depending on their chosen focus during NEA projects, students will be able to use their Fashion and Textiles A level to access a huge variety of higher education courses and subsequent career pathways. You may wish to move onto a  Foundation Diploma where you can expand your creative skills to new possibilities.

You may wish to direct yourself down a specific route within the industry, for example within art, pattern design, fashion design, interior design, costume design, or even look at a more scientific pathway in textiles technology.

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