Design and Technology Textiles - Options 2026
Course Specification: AQA GCSE Art and Design 8204
Course contact: Miss A Patel patel.a@whiteroseacademies.org
Course Description: A GCSE course in Design & Technology - Textiles offers:
An opportunity for you to identify and solve problems by designing and making products in a wide range
of contexts relating to your personal interests. It involves using creativity, skill and imagination to create
and design products for woven, knitted, stitched, printed or decorative textiles that might have a
functional or non-functional purpose.
The exams and non-exam assessment will measure how students have achieved the following
assessment objectives.
- AO1: Develop ideas through investigations, demonstrating critical understanding of sources.
- AO2: Refine work by exploring ideas, selecting and experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes.
- AO3: Record ideas, observations and insights relevant to intentions as work progresses.
- AO4: Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates, understanding of visual language.
What will I learn?
Textiles design is a diverse and challenging subject that requires a commitment to independent
curiosity and the passion to explore creatively . You will study and respond to the world around you
through a range of Textiles techniques. You will learn to make connections with the work of others from
different times, places and cultures.
You will gain the opportunity to experiment with a wide variety of different techniques, materials and
processes some of which are mentioned below.
Areas of study
In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to wor k in one or more area(s) of textile
design, such as those listed below:
- Art textiles
- Fashion design and illustration
- Costume design
- Constructed textiles
- Printed and dyed textiles
- Surface pattern
- Stitched and/or embellished textiles
- Soft furnishings and/or textiles for interiors
- Digital textiles
- Installed textiles.
They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas and can be chosen by the student to link with their own interests.
How will I be assessed?
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Component 1: Portfolio Component 1: Coursework (60% of final mark)
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Component 2: Externally set assignment NEA – Non examined assessment which is worth 50% of the GCSE Design & Technology - Textiles qualification. There are 100 marks available. |
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What's assessed A portfolio that in total shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. It must include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study. Project work from Yr 10 and the beginning of Yr11 responding to a theme in an in-depth way. Evidence will take the form of sketchbooks, development pages sampling and test pieces.
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What's assessed Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives. After Christmas in Year 11 you will receive an exam paper from AQA. You will choose ONE question to work from and then have a limited number of weeks to carefully research your thoughts and ideas in response to this chosen theme.
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How it's assessed · 96 marks · 60% of GCSE
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How it's assessed • Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time • 96 marks • 40% of GCSE
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Component 1:Non-exam assessment (NEA) set and marked by the school/college and moderated by AQA during a visit. Moderation will normally take place in June.
Component 2: (NEA) set by AQA; marked by the school/college and moderated by AQA during a visit. Moderation will normally take place in June.
Future Opportunities and Careers
Textiles design can develop into careers such as Textile designer, Garment Technologist, Retail buyer/wholesaler, Costume designer, Textiles operative, Interior designer, Graphic design, Product design, furniture designer and many others.
Further study examples
Post 16:
A-Level Textiles A-Level Design Technology BTEC Fashion and Textiles
Apprenticeships:
Fashion Studio Assistant Fashion Marketing and Communication
Product Development and Design Sales and Operation Textiles designer Interior designer
If you study GCSE Textiles you cannot also study Design & Technology (Timbers)