Textiles (Fashion)
Examination Board: AQA A Level
It is widely recognised that the UK’s thriving fashion and textile industry makes a huge contribution to the economy; it employs hundreds of thousands of people and is one of our most sought-after exports. There are a vast number of employment opportunities worldwide for young people with a solid understanding of the creative, commercial and technical aspects of this vibrant industry.
This qualification will provide you with the practical skills, theory and confidence to understand the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and to succeed in a number careers.
You will investigate; iconic products, designers that have influenced fashions throughout time, cultures and historic events that have influenced what we have worn, technological advances and their impact on what we wear today and what we might wear in the future.
Whilst undertaking a coursework project (NEA) based on a brief, students will develop skills in a range of communication and presentation techniques to further develop professional design proposals, whilst still enjoying opportunities to put your learning in to practice by producing a prototype of your choice.
A significant part of the course is learning how to create and make your own designs and to use a variety of new textiles and design technologies. Alongside the creative elements of the course you will study the commercial side of fashion, including branding and marketing.
The course content will include:
- Fashion cycles, Design methods and processes
- Design theory
- Responsible design
- Project management
- Enterprise and marketing in the development of products
- The requirements of product design, development and manufacture
- Design Illustration and Communication
- Digital design and manufacture
- Critical analysis and evaluation
- Industrial and commerce practice
- How technology and cultural changes can impact on the work of designers
- Additional specialist knowledge –The characteristics and working properties of materials, methods of joining fabrics and construction methods
- The use of pattern drafting and toiles
- The application of smart materials, e-textiles and technical textiles
Year 12
In the first year, you will continue to build on the skills already gained at GCSE in Design Technology (Textiles). You will receive two hours per component (Exam theory and practical application) in a total of four sessions per week. At the beginning of the summer term you will begin the NEA which you will continue with until the submission of it in the Spring term.
Year 13
In the second year, you will carry on with your NEA and continue your investigation of fashion and textiles theory, in preparation for the A Level exams.
The final assessment is 50% Exam and 50% coursework (NEA)
Paper 1 - Technical principles
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Mixture of short answer and extended-response questions.
- 120 marks
- 30% of A-level
Paper 2 – Designing And Making Principles
- Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Mixture of short answer and extended-response questions.
- 80 marks
- 20% of A-level
Non-exam assessment (NEA) - Substantial design and make project which is a Practical application of the above as well as specialist practical skills and knowledge. (50% of final grade)
This creative qualification will provide you with the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in the creative industries.
It is a doorway into many future professions such as fashion design, fashion merchandising, fashion marketing, PR and journalism or as a fashion writer, buyer, stylist or technologist. Furthermore, the rapidly developing field of ‘new’ technologies offers an exciting opportunity for those who enjoy integrating science, maths and business into the future of fashion.
Sketchbooks, presentation boards, portfolio and practical outcomes will provide evidence for foundation studies and university applications.