Studying Fashion and Textiles A Level at Esher Sixth Form College

Overview

two fashion students using sewing machines

Group Of Students Outside Fashion And Textiles Museum

Creative industries are one of the biggest employers in the UK. The UK fashion industry is the largest employer of all creative industries and the UK is renowned for having the best fashion colleges in the world (British Fashion Council 2019). Fashion and Textiles is taught as a highly creative subject whilst developing awareness and skills in professional practice.

The course is designed to introduce you to the many different aspects of fashion and textiles. It is taught creatively against a background of contextual studies, historical developments in fashion, art and design movements and key figures within the fashion and textiles world. You will master design from concept to final product, learning through designing and making, using both traditional methods as well as new technologies. Awareness of developments and current trends in the fashion and associated industries is given a high profile.

Entry Requirements

In addition to the College Entry Requirements, to qualify for this course you will also need to achieve a minimum of:

Grade 4 in GCSE Art or GCSE Textiles or BTEC First/BTEC Technical /Cambridge National Level 2 Merit in an Art or a Design based course.

If you were not given the opportunity to take an arts-based GCSE at school, you will need to submit a portfolio of artwork before enrolment (see Portfolio Requirements) and speak to the course leader at enrolment to ensure course suitability.

Course Details

What will I study in the first year?
In the first year you develop design and technical skills, sketching and recording ideas, developing design ideas through exploring both materials and processes. You will discover how fabric and textiles can be used in both a decorative or functional way, producing your own individual designs.

Working in a sketchbook from first and second hand observation, you will develop your drawing and mark-making skills. You will learn a variety of techniques that can be used to produce a fashion textile including screen printing.

Technically you will learn to illustrate your ideas, develop skills in stand work and pattern drafting, as well as learning construction techniques, and how to make a toile. Studying contemporary and historical fashion will enhance your own design development.

What will I study in the second year?

In the second year you will have more freedom to explore and develop your own design work. You will submit one major project that has personal significance, building on, extending and developing skills learnt during the first year. Students produce individual outcomes, which may be a collection of garments or be focused on textile design for fashion. There will be a written element relating to this project in the form of a ‘related study’.

In the second half of the year you will select one starting point from a range of themes set by the exam board to produce a portfolio of design work, with the final outcome being produced under controlled conditions. All second year work is submitted for teacher assessment and external moderation.

In the second year you will have more freedom to explore and develop your own design work. For your coursework project you will select your own theme and submit one major project that has personal significance, building on, extending and developing skills learnt during the first year. Students produce their own designed garment/s that may have a focus on textile design or fabric manipulation.

In the second half of the year, you will select one starting point from a range of themes set by the exam board to produce a portfolio of design work, with the final garment being produced under controlled assessment conditions. All second-year work is submitted for teacher assessment and external moderation.

Assessment

Assessment is 60% coursework, in the form of a Personal Investigation which is presented as a design portfolio and practical outcome(s). There are also marks allocated to a written Related Study (20% of the coursework grade). In addition to the coursework there is an Externally Set practical which is worth 40% of the overall A Level mark. Projects are marked by the teachers and externally moderated by the examination board OCR.

Coursework Project – 60% – A design portfolio consisting of sketchbook, presentation boards and final garment/s
Externally Set Assignment 40% – A design portfolio consisting of sketchbook, presentation boards and a final garment completed under controlled assessment
Projects are marked by the teachers and externally moderated by the examination board.

Subject Combinations

Fashion can be combined with any subject. If students are interested in following a career into the creative industries they sometimes combine with Fine Art, Photography, 3D Design, Graphic Communications or Art and Design BTEC. However, you should be aware that there will be continual coursework throughout the course, so you will need to manage your time accordingly.

Other popular combinations are English, Mathematics, Media and Business for those wishing to progress onto fashion journalism, styling, marketing, product development, communication or business. There are no restrictions with other choices.

FAQs

Will I be repeating myself if I do Fashion and Art and Design BTEC?
These two subjects complement each other well; there may be a cross-over with the subjects and skills, but you will not repeat yourself. Many students combine two or more practical and creative subjects at A Level to strengthen their portfolio application for an Art Foundation or degree application in the creative arts.

What extra support/enrichment activities are on offer?
In both years the department offers a range of visits to galleries and exhibitions to support portfolio work. We inform students of current exhibitions and encourage independent visits. There is a celebration of students’ work with an end of year exhibition and catwalk show.

What skills will I need and develop on this course?
An art or design background is a helpful base to develop new skills. You will be encouraged to make independent visits to exhibitions, art galleries and museums and keep up-to-date with current fashion issues. You will develop your observational and analytical skills and acquire practical and technical skills to be transferred into creative work as appropriate to your intentions.

University Destinations

Fashion and Textiles A Level is a highly respected qualification, with 90% of our students progressing onto university.

Here are some typical university destinations that our Fashion and Textile students go on to. Click on a destination to see some examples of courses they have taken;