Textiles

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There is no better quote to describe the importance of textile design that Marc Jacob’s, “Design is a series of creative choices- it’s a collaborative effort, an evolutionary process. You choose your fabrics depending upon what you want it to be… through the process, you realise what you want it to be.” The act of making something utterly personal and meaningful than what one wears is a rebellious and purposeful skill to have.

From Year 7 to Year 9, Textiles is offered through the Art and Design curriculum and it encourages students to take creative risks, work hard for their outcomes, and build up their skills in a variety of materials to help them succeed. The textiles staff come with a variety of skills, artistic training and knowledge that enable pupils to experience a varied and exciting curriculum. We want all pupils to have a unique and enriching experience in making and manipulating fabrics; equipping them with the skills, techniques, knowledge and understanding to produce work to the best of their individual abilities.

We also offer Textiles at GCSE, where students will work under the Art and Design (Textiles title) assessment criteria to develop their ideas to create a final outcome. Students will hone their technical skills on the sewing machine, by moving on to more advanced stitching techniques, use of alternative materials, and use of exciting and experimental designers and artists to push ideas forward.

We offer an exciting, varied and ambitious programme of study.

Our subject area seeks to develop the following in all our students:

An understanding of the work and approaches of artists, craftspeople and designers from contemporary and historical contexts, periods, societies and cultures.
Ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions can be communicated through visual and tactile language, using the formal elements of art through a skills-based curriculum; and,
The development and exploration of different materials in a controlled and safe setting

The KEY STAGE 3 Section:

The Key Stage 3 curriculum is designed to develop students’ textiles skills such as sewing, appliqué, creativity and analysing designers’ work. Not only does this give them a solid base to undertake GCSE Textiles (Art-based study) in a couple of years time should they wish to, but also helps to boost their literacy and resilience using bespoke units of work covering a variety of textiles genres and themes.

Pupils will be taught to develop their creativity and ideas, and increase proficiency in their execution. They should develop a critical understanding of artists and designers, expressing reasoned judgements that can inform their own work.

Pupils will be taught:

to use a range of techniques to record their designs in journals as a basis for exploring their ideas
to use a range of techniques and media, including paint, appliqué and batik
to increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials
to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
about the history of art, craft, and design, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day.

The Textiles department follows the Academy policy on homework. Homework tasks involve drawing, research, developing classwork or individual responses. It is essential a disciplined approach towards homework is taken in order for students to fully meet the course requirements. Students are welcome in the department at lunch and after-school for homework guidance.

Trips and Visits:

There will be a variety of trips and visits during the course of the school year.

How can I support my child at home?

Please ensure that your child is fully equipped for learning, including a pencil, ruler, rubber and sharpener. We expect students to come to class with homework completed to their best standard. Textiles teachers are available during lunch and after-school for guidance and help. Please check out Youtube.com for some great tutorials on drawing as well as Pinterest.com for visual inspiration. As always, websites should be accessed with parents’ permission first.

Key Stage 3

Pupils will be taught:

to use a range of techniques to record their designs in journals as a basis for exploring their ideas
to use a range of techniques and media, including paint, appliqué and batik
to increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials
to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
about the history of art, craft, and design, including periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day.

Trips and Visits:

There will be a variety of trips and visits during the course of the school year.

How can I support my child at home?

Key Stage 4

The Art department has continued to have results which are above national average, we endeavour to maximise the potential of all students who opt for this subject.

Through the Textiles GCSE course students cover the following:

Areas of study

The students complete to components of work in this course.

In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more area(s) of Textiles, such as those listed below:

art textiles
fashion design and illustration
costume design
constructed textiles
printed and dyed textiles
surface pattern
stitched and/or embellished textiles
soft furnishings and/or textiles for interior
digital textiles
installed textiles

They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.

GCSE Textiles cover four assessment objectives:

AO1: to explore and develop ideas by investigating and researching the work of arts
- This is done through artist research, visual links and responses to their work, and through annotations
AO2: to refine and experiment through different ideas and media, with a range of techniques
- This is done through producing sketchbook work in a variety of materials and techniques, including different paints, drawing materials (like charcoal and fine liner), photography, as well as more experimental media, like coffee and bubbles.
AO3: to record and present ideas related to your theme
- This includes the use of primary observations (drawing from life), skill level and annotations
AO4: to present a final outcome that clearly links to previous work
- This is your final outcome or piece for your units. This piece should relate to previous learning in your sketchbooks and clearly show off your knowledge, skills and understanding.

For more information related to the course specification, please see AQA’s website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206 (AQA Art and Design code 8206)

Course component breakdown

The students will cover two components of practical work:

Component one: internally-set coursework units, commencing in Year 10, worth 60% of your GCSE

Component two: an externally-set assignment designed by the exam board, worth 40% of your GCSE

Homework expectations (hours and completion standards)

The Art department follows the Academy policy on homework. Homework tasks involve drawing, research, developing classwork or individual responses.

It is essential a disciplined approach towards homework is taken in order for students to fully meet the course requirements.

Students must come to school equipped to learning, including by having a pencil, rubber, sharpener and ruler. Use of sewing machines and other materials are welcomed, but not required. Students should ensure that they meet deadlines set and take full advantage of lunch-time and after-school sessions within the department.