Design & Technology: Fashion & Textiles A Level

Examination Board: AQA

What is the course about?

This creative and thought-provoking qualification gives students the practical skills, theoretical knowledge and confidence to succeed in a number of careers, especially those in the creative industries.

They will investigate historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic influences on design and technology, whilst enjoying opportunities to put their learning in to practice by producing products of their choice.

Students will gain a real understanding of what it means to be a designer, alongside the knowledge and skills sought by higher education and employers.

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course.

Students will cover a wide range of textiles related topics:

Materials and their applications
The requirements for product design, development and manufacture
Design communication
Digital design and manufacture
Efficient use of materials
Health and Safety
Design methods and processes
Design theory
How technology and cultural changes can impact on the work of designers

Course structure and units:

Title	Assessment mode
Technical principles	External – 2 ½ hour exam (30% of A level)
Designing and making principles	External – 1 ½ hour exam (20% of A level)
NEA – practical application of core technical principles, core designing and making principles and additional specialist knowledge	Substantial design and make project (50% of A level)

How is it assessed?

The course is assessed through a mixture of written exams and design and make projects with the context being set by AQA.

Where will it take me?

This qualification supports the progression into further education, training or employment, but specifically in textiles: textile or fashion designer, fashion merchandising and buying, advertising and marketing, manufacture, costumier or researcher for technical fabric development.