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D&T Fashion & Textiles

D&T is one subject that umbrellas the three specialisms resistant materials, graphics and textiles. This page focuses on Fashion and Textiles.

Department Vision:
To nurture a passion for creativity, and a desire for success.
Department Aim:
To develop our students into confident, creative, and robust problem solvers, who have the skills and tools to be able to communicate solutions and make changes that will positively influence the experience of products and systems in the world around us.
Page content:

Design & Technology Department (D&T) is one subject, which umbrellas the three specialisms: resistant materials, graphics and textiles.

Design & Technology: Textiles Specialism

Textiles design is an integral part of daily life: it encompasses all aspects of the design and make process on a 2 and 3dimensional plane. Without textiles life would be pretty dull, uninspiring, and all together less functional.

Textiles at GCSE is a subject that develops research skills, problem solving, and improves independent learning. Students learn to communicate and work as a team. The practical skills of design, sketching, use of digital media, CAD/CAM, materials and manufacture are introduced and developed.

The focus on the textiles gives students the chance to discover the wonder of design and technology. A good design attracts attention and provides pleasure; a textile product can protect, promote and inspire all at the same time; an intelligent design can deliver a powerful message, whilst making someone’s life easier; a sympathetic design can be a force for good in the world and can support the need to act in a sustainable way.

In our curriculum we aim to:

  • explore design and technology as a whole, to a foundation level
  • focus on textiles as a specialism within the subject
  • give students confidence to work with different textile based materials
  • allow students to discover ways to develop their creativity in order to satisfy the needs of user centred design
  • encourage a life-long interest in the subject of design and fashion, and a greater appreciation of design decisions that have formed the world around us.
  • foster a deeper understanding of sustainability and the responsibility of the designer in ways of working that enhance the longevity of the planet, and combat the damage of the past

D&T Textiles is a popular subject at KS4 because it allows students to work in a different environment: it draws on a spectrum of learning styles, and develops knowledge and skills, which can genuinely be applied to make a change in the world. Most of these skills are cross curricular, meaning they can support the learning in other subjects across the school. The department understands the need to embrace traditional hand skills with drawings and the making of prototypes, whist also accessing modern technology by utilising 2D and 3D CAD software and CAM manufacturing machinery. Students who study design and technology can move on to further study within their specialism, or enter into apprenticeships or careers in the plethora of opportunities that are design related both in this country and abroad.

Learning ladders

Click on the Learning Ladder to see a larger version. The Learning Ladder shows the subjects or topics that students will learn about each year. Click on any 'Year' roundel to view an in-depth Learning Journey for the year you have selected. This shows in more detail, what students will learn each term, with links to useful resources etc. (this applies to all roundels)

FASHION & TEXTILES KS4/5

View the Learning Ladder and the Learning Journey for this subject here.

Wider Curriculum

The Wider Curriculum allows students to take a further interest in their subjects and subject related material they study at school. The Wider Curriculum also enables parents and carers to actively engage with the opportunities offered by each department.

KS3 WIDER CURRICULUM

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS4

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS5

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

Career Options in Fashion & Textiles

These are some examples of career paths available if you study this subject:

Technical Textiles, Fashion Designer, Paper Cutter, Tailor, Weaver, Milliner, Costume Stylist, Assistant Stylist, CAD Designer or Operator, Design Technician, Fabric Development Specialist, Lace Designer, Print Designer, Textile Artist, Textile Designer, Surface Designer, Theatrical Costume Designer, Interior Designer