Textile Design

Textile Design is a vibrant subject which provides students with the knowledge, skills and ambition to experiment and create their own work whether this be surface design, a product or a garment through the use of materials, textile techniques and processes.

Textile Design is a fantastic exploration of textiles through creative techniques and processes and the use of conventional and unconventional materials and fabrics.

Textile Design is a hands on and tactile subject. It teaches practical skills, as well as research techniques, creative thinking and visual interpretation. Students have the satisfaction and inspiration of experiencing the development of a design idea into a real textile outcome.

St Bart’s has two dedicated textiles classrooms, each with a suite of sewing machines, overlockers, two embellishing machines, a CAD Embroidery machine, a sublimation printer and a heat press. Students can also access the Laser Cutter in the 3D Design department. Students are offered a vast range of opportunities to get involved with creative clubs, such as our Knit & Natter, Costume Club and Art Club.

St Bart’s also participates in the West Berkshire and North Hampshire Open Studios scheme, with a selection of work from our Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Communication and Textile Design students. The school also produces our own online Summer Exhibition at the end of the school year, with a wide range of student work and accomplishment on display. Students’ work is often celebrated through House Art, in local exhibitions and entered into national competitions.

Year 7-9

In Years 7 and 8, students are on a Design Technology rotation with Food and 3D Design and therefore experience 2 units of Textile Design with a 2 hour lesson a week. Students then choose whether to follow Textile Design as a Year 9 option with a 2 hour lesson a week throughout the year.

During KS3, Year 7 and 8 students experience one sustained project during their rotation. These projects develop different concepts, such as research for inspiration, experimentation with textile techniques and processes, analysing the work of others, designing and making a 3D outcome.

Year 7 Curriculum

Little Monster Project

Within lessons, students will learn how to research and take inspiration from textile designers. They develop skills in experimentation by being introduced to textile techniques and processes including how to sew on buttons, sequins and other embellishments, hand embroidery stitches and applique. Students will design, pattern cut, decorate and construct their ‘Little Monster’.

Year 8 Curriculum

Cultural Bag Project

Students are introduced to different cultural patterns from around the world. Students will research and take inspiration from their chosen culture and textile designers in order to design a drawstring bag.

The lessons build on the skills learnt in Year 7 and introduce further textile techniques and processes such as tie dye, sublimation printing, fabric pens and using the sewing machine for construction and applique.

Students learn how to design their own fabric with the emphasis on a repeat pattern. This involves an understanding of colour theory, drawing skills, and the formal elements of art in order to design motifs and pattern formations. Students’ pattern designs are then digitally transformed into an A3 repeating pattern that is printed onto the fabric used to construct the bag. Finally, students will decorate the bag with the techniques explored through the term.

Year 9 Curriculum

In Year 9, students build on the skills, techniques and processes learnt in Year 8. There are 3 projects throughout the academic year.

Students will explore and experiment with textile techniques and processes such as:

Reverse applique
Hand embroidery
Free motion embroidery using the sewing machine
Patchwork
Fabric and heat manipulation techniques
Layering and slashing
Fabric dying and painting
Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Digital print design
Fabric printing
Batik

Project 1: Exotic Banner Project

Students research, experiment, design and make a wall hanging ‘Banner’ based on the theme of the theme of Exotic. This includes plants, flowers, landscapes, fruits and animals.

Project 2: Trash Fashion

This is a group project where students research, experiment, design and make a ‘Trash’ garment using recycled materials to raise awareness for the Environment.

Project 3: Pop Art Fabric Portraits
Students research, experiment, design and make a fabric portrait based on ‘Pop Art’.

GCSE (Year 10-11)

Examination Board: AQA ART & DESIGN: TEXTILES 8204

Course Description

GCSE Textile Design focuses on learning through practical experiences. Each lesson is hands on, students learn and experiment with new and exciting ways of being creative within textiles. The course explores different textile techniques and students research the work of textiles artists to help enrich & develop their own work.

Textile specific techniques learnt include:

Areas of focus include primary and secondary research, explorative drawing, experimentation and sampling with materials, techniques and processes in addition to studying the work of artists, designers, craftspeople, fashion, interior design and illustration to produce final outcomes.

Assessment

Component 1: Personal Coursework Portfolio. The portfolio will include an extended project presented in a sketchbook. The portfolio will be a sustained project, starting with the beginning of students’ ideas, to the development of ideas through to their final outcome/s.

Students experiment in their portfolio with the textiles techniques taught in class. The sketchbook will contain all of their ideas and development samples, including explorative drawings in a range of materials, primary and secondary photographs,mood boards and creative design ideas. It will also include the study of textile and fashion designers as well as photographers, artists or architects.

Component 2: The Externally Set Assignment. Students select one starting point from the AQA exam paper. They develop a project based on this theme for around 12 school weeks. A final outcome is then created during a 10 hour exam, which is held over two consecutive days. The preparation will be recorded in a sketchbook, similar in layout to your portfolio.This accounts for 40% of the qualification.

Sixth Form (Year 12-13)

Examination Board: AQA ART & DESIGN: TEXTILE DESIGN 7204

Course Description

In A Level Textile Design, students develop skills and knowledge through creative exploration. They are introduced to a variety of experiences that explore a range of textile media, processes and techniques – both traditional and contemporary.

Students explore the use of drawing for different purposes, experiment with a range of materials and techniques and use sketchbooks to underpin developing work. The course builds understanding of shape, line, scale, colour, texture, pattern, contrast and/or repetition in relation to textile design. Students experiment with a variety of textile methods, such as:

Students explore a variety of themes and will be given creative and technical guidance to help them develop their own original projects and create outcomes. Outcomes can vary from conceptual pieces, wall hangings, garments, costumes, interior products and installations.

Assessment

This is a linear course. This means that students opting for an A Level in this subject will be committing to a two-year linear course with all units assessed during Year 13 (60% portfolio, 40% practical exam).

Assessment is made up of two compulsory and externally moderated components:

Component 1 is set by the school and is an internally assessed extended project including a written element.
Component 2 is set by the exam board and comprises an extended project and a 15-hour practical exam (workshop-based), also internally assessed.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to have a GCSE Grade 5 in an Art & Design based subject (Art, Fine Art, Graphic Communication, 3D Design, Photography or Textile Design) is required.

During the course you will be expected to purchase fabrics and resources to make outcomes.

Where might it lead?

A Level Textile Design can help open doors to careers in/as:

Colour Technologist
Community Arts
Fabric Designer
Fashion Designer
Furniture Designer
Graphic Designer
Illustrator
Interior Designer
Jewellery Designer
Printmaker
Product Designer
Retail Buyer

Student Destinations

Jessica Milne

2024 Offers from:

University of the Arts London – Technical Arts for Theatre and Performance
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts – Theatre and Performance Design

Olivia Fortmuller

2024 Offers from

University of the Arts London – Fashion Communication: Journalism
University of the Arts London – Fashion Journalism and Content Creation

Annis Barrie

2024 Offers from

Arts University Bournemouth – Fashion
London Metropolitan University – Fashion Textiles (including foundation year)
University of the Arts London – Fashion Pattern Cutting

St Bartholomew’s School Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire. RG14 6JP

Telephone: 01635 521255 | Email: office@stbarts.co.uk | Full Staff Contact List
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