Course Title Advanced GCE in Art and Design: Textile/Fashion Design

Examination Board AQA

Subject Code A Level Award 7204

Course Content

Year 12: Coursework portfolio- Mark Making and exploration in Fashion- ‘The Elements’. 

This unit will provide you with an interesting and challenging opportunity to further develop your design skills and to fulfil your creative aspirations. You will be encouraged to adopt a broad view of design, developing your investigative, analytical, experimental, practical and technical skills. The unit will be punctuated with Textile ‘workshops’ encouraging you to work with a broad range of media, creating independence of mind in relation to developing your own ideas and refining personal outcomes in the form of a final made aspect.

Year 12: Mock Externally set task– 5hrs Practical exam 

Candidates select one starting point from an early release paper.

Candidates are given a minimum of three weeks to plan and prepare.

Candidates are then given 5 hours of controlled time to work on developing their ideas to realisation/outcome.

Year 12-13: Personal Investigation 

Candidates submit one major project that has personal significance. The investigation includes a related personal study that must be between 1000 and 3000 words.

Year 13: Controlled Assignment-15hrs Practical exam 

Candidates select one starting point from and early release paper

Candidates are to be given a minimum of three weeks in which to plan and prepare.

Candidates are given 15 hours of controlled time to realise their ideas into a final outcome or outcomes.

Assessment Overview 

Component 1: Coursework Portfolio/Personal investigation Year 13 

60% of the total A Level. 96 marks non exam assessment.

Candidates produce a portfolio of practical work showing either a starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus, devised and provided by the learner centre, work from starting points, topics or themes determined by the centre.

A related study: an extended response of a guided minimum of 1000 words.

Component 2: Externally set task. Year 13 

40% of the total A Level marks. 96 marks 15 hour practical exam

The early release paper will be issued on 1st February and will provide learners with a number of themes, each with a range of written and visual starting points, briefs and stimuli. A response should be based on one of these options.

Future Progression

This course aims to equip you with the ‘‘creativity and flair’’ demanded from all top Design schools and universities. In most cases these establishments prefer to select students who do not need to complete a foundation year ‘catch up’ course to bring their skills in line with other students who have studied the subject at A Level. As required from Design schools this course will provide you with knowledge of a variety of specialist areas ranging from fashion and interiors to industrial uses of textiles and aspects of manufacturing, industrial and commercial practice. The course will provide you with a detailed insight into the work of a designer and alternative aspects of the industry such as the marketing and advertising of fashion and textile products.

This course will provide a good grounding in general design processes, therefore enabling you to move on to a range of design based higher education courses such as Fashion and Marketing, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Product Design, Textiles or Surface Pattern. Many career-related opportunities are available including design, sales, marketing, buying, advertising and promotion.

‘As well as creative ability, successful designers and artists need an appreciation of the wider issues influencing their practice. By studying a design course, you will learn about the historic, cultural and technological aspects of art and design, alongside your specialist studies. You will develop your communication, research and analytical skills, your visual and critical awareness and your knowledge of the art and design world to become a highly employable graduate’. (Leeds University) 

To succeed in Textiles

You will:

•  Have a genuine interest and passion for textiles, fashion, interiors and the design process
•  Be willing to complete independent research and planning
•  Be highly motivated and self-disciplined
•  Be willing to read extensively around the subject from a variety of sources.