KS4 GCSE Art and Design – Textiles

If you enjoy drawing, painting, fashion, designing and making artefacts from fabrics and threads then Textiles would be the ideal choice for you.

What Will I Learn?

Students will learn to design and make beautiful artefacts from textile materials. As there is no written element the whole course is practical and you will learn a wide range of skills which will include drawing, various textile techniques, designing, researching, analysing the work of other artists and designers and applying all knowledge gained to your final pieces of work.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1 is Coursework based and builds up your portfolio of work. During Years 9, 10 and 11 you will do a range of different projects on a selection of themes. These can take a number of different pathways from fashion based projects where we make garments and accessories, to constructed textiles and embroidery.

Unit 2 is the Externally Set Assignment – At the beginning of January we receive an exam paper from AQA which gives 6 different themes to work from. For example: Decorative Textiles: Exotic feathers, butterfly wings, animal skins, fish scales and shells have inspired the design of decorative textiles throughout the world. Explore a variety of examples and develop your own work. The students then have 10 weeks to research, experiment and refine their ideas before completing their final outcome under exam conditions.

The four Assessment Objectives are:

AO1 – Develop their ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding.

AO2- Refine their ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes.

AO3- Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions in visual and/or other forms.

AO4- Present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements.

What are the entry requirements?

The main requirement is that students are creative, willing to work hard and are interested in fashion or textile design. Previous experience in Art or Textiles would be a bonus.

Is there anything else I need to know?

It is not a subject that is only for girls. Most of the famous fashion designers in the world are males. It also does not matter if you don’t have any previous textile experience as long as you are willing to learn. We also have links with working Textile designers such as Mister Finch and Mr X Stitch who we use to inspire our students and try to get them to come in and work with us wherever possible to further enrich our work.

Future opportunities

A-Level Art & Design Textiles is available and is an ideal subject to study if you want a future career in the arts, fashion or textiles.

Further study at Biddenham through an AS or A level in Art & Design Textiles, or college, or an art foundation course. Possible careers after studying Art and Design Textiles are as follows: Architecture, Art therapist, Games designer, Audio – visual designer, Book designer, Corporate identity designer, Display designer, Electronic image designer, Exhibition designer, Exhibition officer, Fashion buyer, Fashion forecaster, Fashion grader, Fashion illustrator, Fashion journalist, Fashion merchandiser, and many other Art related careers

How Will I be Assessed?

Unit 1 is your portfolio of work and is worth 60% of the final marks.

Unit 2 is the externally set task and is worth 40% of the marks.

What are the Costs?

Students will need to purchase some materials and threads to manufacture their designs. There will be trips such as The Handmade Fair in London.

Who should I contact for extra information?

Course contact: chrissie.venables@mybiddenham.com

Exam board information: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/dandt/new/textiles_overview.php