Pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 study Design and Technology on a rotation basis so they are able to cover all aspects throughout KS3. All students will spend a term in a particular area of technology including textiles, resistant materials and food, giving them the opportunity to gain essential key skills and knowledge needed for future prospects. All ingredients and materials are provided for all students to achieve the best possible outcome with subject specialist teachers assigned to each project. 

 

The following subjects are covered across KS3:

AQA GCSE Art and Design: Textile Design

Subject Intent

Art and Design: Textile Design provides students with an exciting opportunity to explore creativity through textiles, materials, techniques and processes. The course encourages students to develop their own individual style while investigating how artists, designers and craftspeople use textiles to communicate ideas and create visually engaging outcomes.

Our intent is to develop confident, creative and independent learners who are willing to experiment, take creative risks and develop their ideas through practical exploration. Students will investigate colour, pattern, texture, shape and form while developing an understanding of how different materials and techniques can be used to produce original textile designs.

The course also develops valuable transferable skills including creativity, problem-solving, research, organisation, critical thinking, resilience and the ability to reflect upon and refine work. Students are encouraged to take increasing ownership of their projects and develop personal responses to a range of themes and starting points.

Aims of the Course

The AQA GCSE Art and Design: Textile Design course aims to develop students' creative, practical and analytical skills through a broad range of textile-based activities.

Throughout the course, students will investigate the work of artists, textile designers, craftspeople and other creative practitioners from historical and contemporary contexts. They will use this research to inspire and inform the development of their own ideas.

Students will experiment with different materials, processes and techniques and learn how to refine their work as their ideas develop. Depending on the projects undertaken, students may explore areas such as constructed textiles, printed and dyed textiles, fashion design, digital textiles, surface pattern, stitching, embellishment and mixed-media approaches.

Students will learn to record their ideas and observations through drawing, photography, annotation and practical experimentation before developing these into personal and meaningful final outcomes.

The course encourages students to become independent and reflective creative practitioners who can explain their decisions, respond to feedback and continually develop and improve their work.

Course Structure

The qualification consists of two components, both of which allow students to demonstrate their ability to research, experiment, develop ideas and create personal textile outcomes.

Component 1: Portfolio – 60%

Students produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates their knowledge, understanding and skills developed throughout the course.

Students undertake a sustained project that takes them on a creative journey from an initial theme, idea or starting point through research, experimentation and development to a final outcome.

Throughout their portfolio, students investigate relevant artists, designers and craftspeople, experiment with textile materials and techniques, record their observations and ideas and continually refine their work.

Students are encouraged to develop increasingly personal and independent responses as their confidence and technical ability grows.

The portfolio is worth 60% of the overall GCSE and is marked by the school before being moderated by AQA.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment – 40%

For the second component, AQA provides students with an externally set assignment containing a range of different starting points.

Students select one starting point and undertake a period of preparation in which they research, investigate, experiment with materials and techniques and develop their ideas towards a final response.

Following the preparatory period, students complete 10 hours of supervised time, during which they create their final outcome or series of related outcomes.

The Externally Set Assignment is worth 40% of the overall GCSE and is marked by the school before being moderated by AQA.

Across both components, students are assessed against four key objectives. They must demonstrate their ability to develop ideas, refine and experiment, record ideas and observations, and present a personal and meaningful response.

Where Could This Course Lead?

GCSE Art and Design: Textile Design provides an excellent foundation for students wishing to continue into further education within art, design, textiles, fashion and the wider creative industries.

Students may progress to A Level Art and Design, A Level Textiles or vocational and college-based courses in areas such as Art and Design, Fashion and Textiles, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Fashion Communication, Costume Design, Surface Pattern Design, Interior Design and other creative specialisms.

Students may also choose vocational pathways such as BTEC, UAL or other Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications within art, design, fashion and the creative industries. These can provide progression to university, specialist art and design institutions, apprenticeships or employment.

In the longer term, Textile Design can support progression towards careers including textile designer, fashion designer, costume designer, surface pattern designer, interior designer, illustrator, stylist, fashion buyer, visual merchandiser, print designer, product designer and many other roles within the fashion, textiles and creative industries.

The creative and transferable skills developed throughout the course can also support careers within areas such as advertising, marketing, media, theatre, film and television.

The qualification therefore provides students with an opportunity to develop their creativity, practical ability and individual artistic identity while building a strong foundation for further study and future careers within the creative industries.

 

AQA GCSE Art and Design: Three-Dimensional Design

Subject Intent

Art and Design: Three-Dimensional Design provides students with an exciting opportunity to explore creativity through designing, making and problem-solving. The course encourages students to investigate how designers, artists and craftspeople develop ideas and transform them into functional, decorative and imaginative three-dimensional outcomes.

Our intent is to develop confident, creative and independent learners who are willing to experiment, take creative risks and develop innovative solutions to design challenges. Students will explore shape, form, structure, texture, materials and construction techniques while developing an understanding of the relationship between appearance, function and purpose.

The course develops a wide range of transferable skills including creativity, problem-solving, research, planning, critical thinking, resilience and practical making skills. Students are encouraged to take increasing ownership of their projects, evaluate their progress and continually refine their ideas and outcomes.

Aims of the Course

The AQA GCSE Art and Design: Three-Dimensional Design course aims to develop students' creative, practical and analytical skills through a broad range of design and making activities.

Throughout the course, students investigate the work of relevant artists, designers, architects and craftspeople from historical and contemporary contexts. They use this research to inspire and inform their own ideas and develop increasingly personal responses to different themes and design challenges.

Students experiment with a variety of materials, processes, tools and techniques, learning how their properties and characteristics can influence the design and manufacture of three-dimensional outcomes.

Depending on the projects undertaken, students may explore areas including product design, architectural design, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, interior design, environmental design, exhibition design and three-dimensional digital design.

Students learn to communicate their ideas through methods such as drawing, annotation, photography, modelling, prototypes and digital design. They are encouraged to continually evaluate and refine their ideas as they progress towards high-quality final outcomes.

Course Structure

The qualification consists of two components, allowing students to demonstrate their ability to investigate, experiment, develop, refine and communicate their own creative ideas.

Component 1: Portfolio – 60%

Students produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates the knowledge, understanding and skills they have developed throughout the course.

Students undertake a sustained project that takes them through the complete design process, beginning with an initial theme, brief or starting point. They investigate relevant artists, designers and craftspeople before developing their own ideas through drawing, modelling, experimentation and practical making.

Students are encouraged to explore different materials and construction techniques, produce models and prototypes and continually refine their designs in response to their research and practical experimentation.

The project culminates in a personal three-dimensional outcome or series of related outcomes that demonstrate the student's creative journey and development.

The Portfolio is worth 60% of the overall GCSE and is marked by the school before being moderated by AQA.

Component 2: Externally Set Assignment – 40%

For the second component, AQA provides students with an externally set assignment containing a range of different starting points.

Students select one starting point and undertake a preparatory period in which they investigate relevant sources, experiment with materials and processes and develop and refine their own design ideas.

Following this preparatory period, students complete 10 hours of supervised time in which they produce their personal response.

The Externally Set Assignment is worth 40% of the overall GCSE and is marked by the school before being moderated by AQA.

Across both components, students are assessed against four key objectives. They must demonstrate their ability to develop ideas, refine and experiment, record ideas and observations, and present a personal and meaningful response.

Where Could This Course Lead?

GCSE Art and Design: Three-Dimensional Design provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to continue their education within art, design, architecture, product design and the wider creative industries.

Students may progress to A Level Art and Design, A Level Three-Dimensional Design, Product Design or vocational and college-based courses in areas such as Art and Design, Product Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Furniture Design, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewellery Design, Model Making and other creative specialisms.

Students may also progress to Level 2 and Level 3 vocational qualifications before moving on to university, specialist art and design institutions, apprenticeships or employment.

In the longer term, Three-Dimensional Design can support progression towards careers such as architect, product designer, interior designer, furniture designer, industrial designer, ceramicist, sculptor, jewellery designer, exhibition designer, model maker, set designer, landscape designer and other roles within the creative and design industries.

The skills developed through the course can also be valuable within industries such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, theatre, film and television, where creative thinking, visual communication, modelling and problem-solving are highly valued.

The qualification therefore provides students with an opportunity to combine creativity with practical problem-solving, developing both their individual design identity and the skills required for further study and future careers within the creative industries.