Textiles
Olivia, Year 9 Textiles - Travel Accessories Project
Textiles
Aims of the Textiles department:
- To give our pupils an understanding of the characteristics of different fabrics, their handling and uses.
- To enable pupils to work from a design brief, to research and formulate a design proposal and to achieve a final end product.
- To develop practical and manipulative skills using a range of techniques and methods.
- To familiarise our pupils with a range of equipment including the sewing machine.
- To encourage inventiveness, originality and creativity.
- To ensure that the pupils work safely and do not endanger others.
- To encourage pupils to take pride in their work and to achieve a good standard of finish.
- To introduce pupils to recent technological advances in the Textile industry.
Year 7
Year 7 students will learn to safely use the sewing machines and small textile equipment with safety, accuracy and efficiency. They will construct a tote bag, using a range of techniques and equipment.
Areas of study include:
- Fabric layout and cutting
- Origins of fibres and basic properties
- Fibre, yarn and fabric
- Health and safety
- The use of the sewing machine to include accurate usage
Year 8
In year 8 the emphasis is using a range of fabric decoration techniques to create an original and exciting cushion within a set theme. Students will develop design and making skills using a wide range of fabrics tools and processes.
Areas of study include:
- Design brief: To design a cushion cover that incorporates a designated theme.
- Fabric dyeing techniques
- Fabric decoration techniques– machine appliqué, hand embroidery, beading and stenciling
- Construction
- Equipment, tools and their safe use – iron, dyes etc
- Evaluation of product against original brief
Year 9
Year 9 pupils will learn to use a brief to guide their designing. They will be encouraged to combine both the decorative techniques and sewing skills developed in previous years to produce a creative and original product. Market research, pattern cutting and fashion illustration are new areas of study
Areas of study include:
- Construction
- Gathering and selecting appropriate information to guide the design brief
- Considering functions of the end product as well as the aesthetics
- Marketing of the end product
- Pattern making
Key Stage 4
This is a two year course where students learn to create a portfolio and see the design process through from start to finish. They will develop their sewing skills by learning to use a commercial pattern as well as learn to adapt these in order to achieve their own designs. Year 11 pupils will complete a major design and make a project which comprises 60% of the final examination mark.
Examining Board AQA
Aims: Design and technology encourages students to develop innovative and creative designs and to produce high quality products. A practical problem solving approach encourages independent learning.
Course details:
- AS level consists of 2 units and forms 50% of the full A level.
- The A2 consists of 2 units forming 50% of the final A level.
- Overall the A level comprises of 50% coursework and 50% written examination.
The course consists of 4 units:
AS:
- Unit 1 - Written paper: materials,components and Application.
- Unit 2 – A coursework project completed during year 12. Learning through designing and making. This will involve producing a portfolio and a textile product.
A2:
- Unit 3 – Written paper: Design and manufacture.
- Unit 4 – A coursework project with a focus on commercial product development. This will involve producing a portfolio and a textile product.
Career Opportunities:
Textile industry in fashion, design, production & management, project management, styling, advertising and interior design.
