The Textiles GCSE course encourages students to work creatively and independently, using a wide variety of textile skills (both traditional and technological). Through the development of these skills, you will learn to express both personal and practical ideas.

Candidates will produce critical/contextual work in a wide range of areas that may include fashion and costume, printed and/or dyed fabrics and materials, domestic textiles, mixed media, constructed,stitched and embellished textiles. You will use ICT where appropriate and use drawing extensively to support your studies.

You will learn about the work of artists, craftspeople and textile designers in relation to your studies and personal areas of development. Students will be expected to have a genuine interest in all aspects of the subject, a willingness to listen carefully to advice and absorb ideas from their research. You will also need to be well organised and committed to completing up to two hours prep studies per week. It is highly desirable to visit galleries and collect relevant resources independently to help develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the world of textiles, past and present.

Year 9: Students carry out a number of mini projects building confidence in developing, refining, recording and presenting ideas through textiles.

Year 10: Students complete mini projects and start a main extended project, all of which contributes to the 60 % of the  final grade at GCSE.

Year 11: Students complete extended project final piece, complete a mini project and in January they start the exam project which is worth 40% of their final grade at GCSE

Students will undertake a high degree of written, drawing and practical based assessment through individual projects. Project materials are often expensive, and students will need to contribute towards materials used. This is typically in the region of £20 per student, paid through WisePay at the beginning of each academic year. In Year 11 students have free choice of outcome and their projects are charged accordingly based on their materials used.Students  may be required to purchase  additional specialised media and materials if costs rise above £25.Students are also expected to purchase the art portfolios/ sketchbooks to present their work.

Component 1: Portfolio – 60%

Component 2: Externally set assignment (10 hour practical exam) – 40%

Component 1: Portfolio: The portfolio will include at least one sustained project developed in response to a subject, theme, task or brief.  This will give students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge and skills. A selection of further work resulting from stand alone tasks will also be included.

Component 2: Externally set assignment. The examination board will provide a separate externally set assignment which provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to draw together different areas of knowledge and skill through an extended creative response. In the Spring Term of Year 11 there will be a 10-hour supervised, unaided practical work conducted in examination conditions that will account for 40% of the course.

Art and Design is one of the biggest grossing industries in the UK. The opportunities for art students in today’s society are many and varied from Architecture to Filmmaking, Graphic Design to Landscape architecture or Photography and the list is continuing to grow. This course provides a good basis for those with fashion, textile design, art/craft, interior design, freelance design. Many students go on to take Art & Design, textile design or fashion design at A’ Level or Advanced Vocational Level, with some then going on to Degree courses.