A Level - Design and Technology Fashion and Textiles

Imagine a world without Fashion and Textiles. No clothes, no soft furnishings, no home decor, limited security or comfort. Design and Technology Fashion and Textiles is a creative and thought-provoking qualification which gives you the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers. You will gain a real-life understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside developing the knowledge and transferable skills highly sought after by higher education establishments and employers.

Design and Technology Fashion and Textiles encompasses a broad range of skills and materials alongside emerging technologies. These include smart and modern materials for example thermochromic/photochromic pigments and electro-conductive fabrics/threads, computer aided design and computer aided manufacture such as laser cutting, sublimation printing and Illustrator.

The Design and Technology Fashion and Textiles course at MGGS will allow you to build on the knowledge and understanding acquired at GCSE level and introduce you to a vast array of skills, processes and techniques that will help underpin your fundamental values as a fashion designer. You are encouraged to think independently throughout the design and make process, including the exploration of ideas, skills and materials in order to generate a range of personal, creative and innovative responses.

You will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on Design and Technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put your learning into practice by producing prototypes of your choice. You will develop a deeper understanding of the design process from the initial identification of a design related problem, through to the final manufactured outcome. You will be engaged in a mixture of theory based lessons, practical experiments, focused practical tasks and project work for the duration of the course. There is something for everyone and we can tailor the course to suit your particular strengths and interests.

50% examination across two papers.

Paper 1: Technical Principles (2 hour 30 minutes, 30%)

Paper 2: Design and Making Principles (1 hour 30 minutes, 20%)

50% Non-Examination Assessment (NEA).

General Sixth Form entry requirements. However, students may have difficulty if they did not achieve Grade 6 or above in any GCSE Design and Technology/Art and Design Textiles subject.

General Sixth Form entry requirements

• At least a grade 5 in either English Language or English Literature
• At least a grade 5 in Mathematics
• At least 6 GCSE subjects of grades 9-5