Fashion and Textiles

Students will develop knowledge and understanding of the core technical, designing and making principles for fashion and textiles. They will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning into practice by manufacturing products of their choice. They will explore, design, create and evaluate innovative solutions in response to realistic design contexts. Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

6 in Design Technology

YEAR 1 Students will study the areas in Fashion and Textiles relating to research, product development, design methods and processes in order to complete an innovative and creative design and make task with the context set by the school. Students will also develop knowledge and understanding of a wide range of materials, design illustration, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), pattern drafting, history of dress, design movements and designers. YEAR 2 Students will further their knowledge on topics from year 1 to include learning about enterprise and marketing within the fashion industry, fashion cycles, socio-economic influences, developments in fibre and material technology. They will complete a substantial design and make task to include a prototype product. The context of the task will be set by the student.

There are two exams, each two hours long on technical, designing and making principles and specialist knowledge. These are worth 50% of the A level. Students will also complete a 40 hour nonexam assessment (NEA) consisting of a single substantial design and make task worth 50% of the A level.

This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the
practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed
in a number of careers, especially those in the creative industries.
These include fashion or textile designer, fashion marketing,
buying, retailing, merchandising or manufacturing. Students can
also pursue careers in a more technical field to include research
and development in textiles, product development and textile
conservation.