Textiles
Pirate project
Technology Evening
Textiles has continued to be a thriving and well-respected area within the College. The Team’s high standards have been recognised in OFSTED Inspection Reports. Examination results are consistently very good indeed. Its position has an important link between Art and Design and Design Technology. The flexible role it has enjoyed enables students to choose a specialism suited to their own preferences and aptitude at GCSE where Art and Design endorsed courses and Design Technology courses are both options.
There are two Textiles studios with the full range of textiles facilities. ICT facilities are available within both areas and include a shared ICT resource base for Textiles and Food Technology. There is also a Sixth Form Textiles Study Area where our AS/A2 students work independently during their study periods.
KEY STAGE 3
In Year 9, students study 5 different DT subject modules that demonstrate the individual characteristics of the Design Technology disciplines we offer at GCSE, of which, Technology Textiles is just one. The purpose of this is so that students can make informed choices at GCSE. The content of these courses is reviewed annually in line with the changes in the GCSE specifications. We are currently working on a pirate costume project in textiles technology over a 8 week rotation.
At the end of the year students complete an enterprise task called Sustainable Souvenirs where they work in teams to produce a batch of sustainable souvenirs for a local organisation such as Tropiquaria.
KEY STAGE 4
Design Technology: Textiles Technology (GCSE)
Students produce textiles following the design process. Several projects are undertaken, but only one major project will be entered as coursework for assessment by the examination board. A typical project will involve drawing and researching, designing ideas including a final solution, sampling onto fabrics and evaluating the outcome. Briefs set are industry based. Several contexts can be studied such as fashion, furnishing and costume. A design/written examination will take place and theory work towards this will relate to practical tasks. The context for the final examination will be issued to students to research beforehand.
Coursework 60%
Exam 40%
KEY STAGE 5
Students who wish to study textiles at A-Level may choose an Art based Textiles course (click here to be re-directed to the Art section of this website) or the following generic DT option which can cover all DT disciplines.
The new OCR Design Technology A Level has been designed to meet the needs of all students studying Design Technology. Students studying any one of the five GCSE disciplines we offer will find opportunities for extended study in this course.
The course comprises four units:
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Unit 1: Advanced Innovation Challenge. Worth 20% of the A level, this is a six hour design and make activity
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Unit 2: Product Study. Worth 30%. this is an opportunity to develop a remodelled product
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Unit 3: Design, make and Evaluate. Worth 30% this is an opportunity to design and make a new product for a client.
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Unit 4: Product Design. Worth 20%, this is a written exam with questiond specific to the intersts of the students - i.e. food, systems, textiles, engineering etc
The work of students studying "Art and Design Textiles" is exhibited every summer and several fashion shows presented by students take place during the year as a showcase. Again, you can see more details of this course in the Expressive Arts section of this website.
All these Textiles courses are popular and results have been consistently high.
Extra Curricular Activities
Regular trips are made to museums and galleries, including a study trip to London for 'A’ Level and the Gifted & Talented Year 11 students. In addition, Design Technology GCSE students have the opportunity to visit Disneyland Paris as a study experience, where they can research their coursework project. Here we have made contact with the costumier for the Parade, who has given us an insight into the business and students have received feedback on their own Disney textile products. A fashion shoot with the Disney characters is another highlight of this trip.
Students are also keen to take advantage of the lunch-time and after College clubs run by Textiles teachers.
We also visit local colleges to see the Art/Fashion/Textiles work produced by students on further and higher education courses, which is inspirational to students own work in addition to being helpful with regard to future courses and career choices.