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Art Textiles A Level – Alton

A Level

close up of a sewing machine and fabric

Availability & Details

Art Textiles - A Level AF1-TEXTAL/C01

Venue
Alton Campus

Type of study
A Levels

Dates
Academic Year 2024-25 (2 years)

Examination board
AQA Education

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How to apply

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Overview

The Art Textiles A Level gives you the time to explore textiles, fashion and art to build your skills in fabric techniques, making and upcycling outcomes, drawing skills and developing sketchbooks.You will be able to work with a range of media to create your work and the course is relevant to careers in textiles, fashion, set and costume design, interior design, buyer, visual merchandising or surface design. It is a creative and stimulating course which encourages independent thinking. Visits to exhibitions are encouraged. 

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including a creative or technical subject. If a creative subject was not taken at GCSE then we need to review a portfolio of material showing enthusiasm and good practice.

Workshop sessions introduce you to a range of materials and techniques, allowing you the freedom to experiment with your own imagery and ideas. Projects encourage you to produce interesting sketchbooks, primary imagery and designs along with making outcomes ranging from fashion, accessories and interiors, to upcycling furniture.Year 1 – Allows you to be experimental and develop a diverse range of work.Year 2 – Focused Personal Investigation in an area of your choice where you explore aspects of fashion, textiles, accessories or interior design that interest you; this will involve producing sketchbooks and outcomes. The Personal Investigation will be supported with an essay (maximum 3000 words).Exploratory sketchbook work prepares you for the externally set project with a topic set by the exam board. This component is followed from February of Year 2, culminating in a 15-hour timed period to produce your outcome.

Lesson activities include plenty of time to develop your ideas and techniques with guidance from tutors, alongside workshop sessions where new skills are developed and with detailed discussion of your work. You are encouraged to work with a range of media and techniques such as silk screen printing, heat press, laser cutting, pattern cutting, using sewing machines, dressmaking skills, applique, felt making, drawing, collage and digital development. Time is also spent on research, design and making.

60% personal investigation and 40% externally set task. The externally set task includes a 15-hour practical controlled exam.

Materials approximately £8 - £25 a term. Optional trips from £20 each. There is an annual overseas Creative Visual Arts department trip.

Direct entry to Higher Education courses such as Foundation Art and Design. Art Textiles is directly relevant to a wide range of careers from interior design and fashion design, accessories designer to weaver and the creative and independent way of thinking is valuable in all walks of life.


My experience at the college has been really good, it’s been really rewarding, all the lecturers were so lovely and supportive there’s no way I could have done it without them - the teaching has been outstanding.

Lucie Brooks, A Level student

College is definitely worth all the effort you put in, you get to meet lots of different people and it’s amazing.

Ebony Puttock, A Level student

“HSDC provided me with the opportunity for autonomous study and the choice of subjects that I wanted to study, which helped me develop relevant knowledge as well as relevant skills for the workplace.”

Lucas Ratcliffe, A Level and CTEC student