Key Stage 4 Art & Design – Textile Design
The new GCSE Design & Technology qualification was not necessarily best suited to those students who had
already opted for Fashion and Textiles and wanted to produce projects working with fabrics. So, following
much research, the faculty has decided to opt for the OCR exam board and the Art and Design qualification.
Within this qualification students can follow areas of study in Textiles working with one or more of the
following; constructed textiles, digital textiles, dyed fabrics, printed fabrics, fashion design, installed textiles,
soft furnishings or stitched and embellished textiles.
Obviously, this allows a great deal of freedom for our learners who will be able to work creatively with a range
of processes and techniques. The GCSE consists of two areas. 60% of the qualification is non-exam
assessment (NEA) which is a portfolio project/task. The other 40% of the qualification is an externally set
task, which should be completed within a 10-hour
period. This will also mean a shift for Textiles from
the Design & Technology faculty into the Art Faculty
at KS4 and is an exciting opportunity for me to gain
from their years of experience with the OCR exam
board.
Our current Yr 9 students have been developing the
practical skills required to construct a fashion
garment and have been modelling and making their
own waistcoats based upon a basic commercial
pattern. This has included some complex skills such
as sewing darts into the fabric to form a fitted shape
and embroidery designs. All of the students have
made excellent progress with this project and have
gained lots of confidence on the sewing machines.
However, congratulations should be given to
Lacey-Mae Williams, Elizabeth Hartopp, Shreya
Rana and Rebecca Morrison for their outstanding
work to date.
Meanwhile our current Yr 10 students have
already begun their portfolio projects based upon a
range of themes from natural forms to
architecture and butterflies! These students have
been busy researching into Fashion and Textile
designers for their inspiration. Congratulations
should go to Renata Bartha, Ellie McKeever, Ella Thompson, Irene Chen and Lily Bradshaw for their
excellent attitude and independence whilst adapting to changes within the qualifications being studied.
I look forward to seeing our current Year 8s on the 1 st March for Options evening to be able to discuss the
subject with them and their parents.
Miss C Boulter
Subject leader for Textiles