Textiles
In KS3 Textiles is taught as part of a carousel with Food and Resistant Materials. The rotation happens approximately every 9 weeks during the year. All Students are taught Textiles in mixed ability groups and follow the National Curriculum.
The Department’s aim is for Davenant students to combine practical and technological skills with creative thinking in order to solve problems, be innovative and understand aesthetic, cultural, health, social, emotional, and environmental issues to make products that meet human needs.
Year 7 – Students are given a design brief to design and make a water bottle sleeve to keep water cool. They learn basic sewing skills using hand and machine sewing. The bottle coat project makes an excellent link with the Healthy Schools Initiatives. Students have three lessons every two weeks.
Year 8 – Students are given a design situation focusing on environmental issues on our climate and the design must be based around this theme. They experiment with decorative surface techniques to apply to the fabric and make a cushion for the teenage market. Pupils have two lessons each week.
Year 9 – The design situation asks students to question sustainability: ‘Recycle, Re-use, Re-create’. Students design the pattern for a bag and make the fabric it is to be constructed from using recycled plastic waste. They develop their sewing skills and apply manufactured components. Students have three lessons every two weeks.
Key Stage four – Pupils will expand their skills and knowledge acquired at Key Stage three, continuing to study the design process of textiles. They complete two projects in Year 10 experimenting with a wide range of techniques and learn about garment construction. The coursework starts at the end of Year 10, they are given a Design Brief to research, design and make a product. In Year 11 they complete the coursework and prepare for the Written Examination. We teach the OCR – Textiles Technology syllabus.
Key Stage Five –Students produce a portfolio of work which is worth 60% and a practical controlled assignment worth 40%. The portfolio is design based developing skills in decorative techniques, constructing fabric and applying surface decoration. At A2 students create a personal major project worth 60% and a practical controlled test worth 40%. We teach the OCR Art Textiles specification.
Davenant Textile students go on to further and higher education courses, choosing to study Art Foundation before continuing on to a Textile degree course.