Design & Technology: Fashion & Textiles

This course is open to students who have achieved 5 or more grades at grade 4 or above at GCSE including English or Maths. In addition, students starting this course should also have achieved at least grade 5 in GCSE Product Design or GCSE Art grade 5.

The nature of the course:This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives you the practical skills, theoreticalknowledge of design, design movements, manufacture, buying and marketing. You will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental, new developments and economic influences on designand technology.

You will also have opportunities to put your learning in to practice by producinga prototype within the market area of your choice using iterative design. You will gain a real understanding as well as the skills and knowledge needed to work in the creative industries

Course components: Technical principles - Examination worth 30%Designing and making principles - Examination worth 20%Practical application of core technical principles, core designing and making principles andadditional specialist knowledge - Non-exam assessment (NEA) worth 50% design portfolio and final prototype.

Future pathways: Fashion and Textiles can lead to careers in:?Design based careers (Fashion, costume, protective clothing or technical textiles)?Technologists (Fibre Technologist, Fabric Technologist, Garment Technologist, Product Development Technologist)?Trends & Fashion (Colourist, Stylist, Trend forecaster, Visual Merchandiser)?Retail (Buyer, Merchandiser, Advertising & marketing)