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Textiles

Subject Teacher: Mrs L Kinroy (Assistant Principal)


The Textiles curriculum aims to develop the students’ knowledge, skills and understanding of art in a textile context. It is designed to provide all learners with the knowledge and competencies needed to be creative, independent and with an ability to articulate their critical understanding. Schemes of work have been developed that fully utilise both traditional and digital textile competencies. There are a number of key concepts that underpin the study of Textiles. Students need to understand these concepts in both KS3 and KS4 in order to deepen and broaden their knowledge, skills and understanding.

The key concepts are:

  • Realising intentions- Students produce imaginative images, samples and high quality outcomes that are both original and of value.
  • Exploring and recording ideas - Investigating, analysing, designing, making, experimenting, reflecting and evaluating effectively.
  • Cultural Understanding - Pupils will engage with a range of images and techniques from different Artists, Designers and cultures, recognising the varied characteristics.
  • Developing ideas through a critical understanding - Students explore visual, tactile and other sensory qualities of their own and others' work through detailed investigations.

When studying Textiles all students will be taught: 

  • To use a range of techniques to record their observations in their booklets and sketchbooks
  • To use a range of techniques and media
  • To increase their proficiency in the handling of different materials within textiles  
  • To analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work  
  • About textile artists and designers, including periods, styles and major movements from different eras 
  • Within the context of textile design, students must demonstrate the ability to: use textile design techniques and processes, appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:
  • Weaving 
  • Felting 
  • Stitching 
  • Appliqué 
  • Construction methods 
  • Printing
  • Use media and materials, as appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example: 

  • Inks 
  • Yarns 
  • Threads 
  • Fibres
  • Fabrics 
  • Textile materials 
  • Digital images

The subject content contained within our curriculum fully compliant with the statutory content outlined in the Key Stage 3 and 4 National Curriculum. 

Textiles is taught as part of the technology rotations in KS3, spending a term within the subject area. Students can then choose the subject as one of their options at KS4. In year 9 students start their textiles option early, beginning the course in the summer term of year 9, this helps develop key skills and conceptual ideas before students start their Controlled Assessment in year 10. 

Students who excel in Textiles have the opportunity to experiment with higher skilled techniques and more complex garment design. Students are able to follow their own design journey and produce individual outcomes of their own creations. Work is also submitted to competitions when these are available to enter. Students are encouraged to keep their own pinterest boards and read fashion magazines, articles.  

Students are encouraged to develop employability skills by managing their own time in completing their Controlled Assessments independently and following their own design intentions. Students need to use their own initiative to plan their time and organise materials to develop ideas to realise their final outcomes. Students also learn about technology and how this enhances textile design, students will use Computer Aided Design to create digital prints and modern manufacturing methods such as the Laser Cutter. Students will develop their communication skills to verbalise their intentions and ideas, analysing the work of other Artists and Designers. 

We ensure that Year 7 effectively builds upon content delivered during Key Stage 2 by enriching students KS2 Art curriculum at Primary school by developing their design skills and knowledge of textile processes. 

The Textiles curriculum has links with the following subject areas:

  • Science: Yr7 plastic pollution, fossil fuels, environmental impacts of plastic pollution. Sustainability. Yr8 How fleece is made, recycling plastics, synthetic fabrics.  
  • Maths: Yr 8 Pattern drafting, Measuring, addition. Yr9 Pattern drafting, Measuring, addition, estimation. 
  • Geography: Yr7 plastic pollution, location of pollution in the world's ocean. Marine conservation in the Philippines looking at the geographical location and characteristics of the country. 

We develop students’ Cultural Capital whilst studying Textiles by giving students the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular trips to support their learning, these include workshops by visiting artists, workshops at the local colleges, visits to art galleries and museums and major cities such as London, Amsterdam and New York. Giving the students a broad cultural experience within the wider arts enriching students’ projects with their experiences.

Students are encouraged to engage in wider reading relevant to Textiles such as:

  • Vogue Magazine
  • Elle
  • Elle Design 
  • Fabric Manipulation by Ruth Singer 
  • Printed Textile Design by Amanda Briggs-Goode
  • Basics Textile Design 01: Sourcing Ideas: Researching Colour, Surface, Structure, Texture and Pattern by Josephine Steel 
  • Create their own Pinterest boards using the App