Peter Symonds College

Study at PSC

A Level Textiles at Peter Symonds is a dynamic, creative and exciting subject to study. You may have studied Textiles/Fashion or Art at GCSE but the only essential requirement is your creative enthusiasm and commitment.

Our Textile Design course is for those who have a love of Art/Design, Fashion or Textiles and want to explore their creativity. Textiles is taught within its own studio which is part of the Art Department. The first year prepares you to carry on to A level in the second year. This can lead to Textile/Art/Fashion related degree courses such as Fashion Design, Printed and Constructed Textiles, Fine Art and Design History or Art Foundation courses. Other students go on to study Fashion Journalism, Fashion Buying/Marketing/Promotion, Fashion Styling, Colour and Trend Prediction, Interior Design and Interior Architecture. In previous years our students have gained places on prestigious courses.

Course Content

We follow an art based approach to Textiles, Fashion and Design. The scope of the course is broad and taught by enthusiastic and supportive staff. The aim is to develop your artistic and design skills by exploring the use of textile processes and materials to create exciting portfolios of expressive and experimental work. You will be taught to look at the world around you for inspiration using photography and drawing to start your investigations. You are encouraged to research the work of other inspirational Artists, Photographers, Designers' and explore contemporary/historical influences from different cultures around the world.

Methods & Patterns of Assessment

Year 1:

Your first year will be a stimulating and exciting time. Working on your first Component you will work on a set project encouraging you to experiment with a large variety of techniques including surface pattern, dyeing, free machine embroidery, using alternative materials, digital design, print and constructed textiles. Your second Component will extend this experience by completing a mock exam. Your work will build into a portfolio reflecting your own personal style and interests. During the year we offer trips to galleries/museums and New Designers to enhance your study.

Year 2:

In your second year the course enables you to develop your own interests and individual expertise through a bespoke project tailored to you called your Personal Investigation Project. This allows you time to create more ambitious garments/outfits, instillations or textile art pieces. There is a written element to this part of the course. This is followed finally by an AQA Externally Set Assignment project. This work will provide you with a portfolio suitable for Foundation or Degree level applications.

We will organise trips to inspire you and in recent years Textiles students have also had the opportunity to be part of the Art Department trip to New York.        

Where Could It Take Me?

This course is ideal for students wishing to build a portfolio for fashion, printed and contrasted textiles or alternatively Fine Art / Textiles Art.  Others have used it as a springboard for related degrees such as marketing / buying / promotion, product design, interior design and architecture or to progress to Art foundation.

Financial Implications

We have a dedicated and fully equipped light and airy Textile studio stocked with Bernina sewing machines, embellishing machines and all the resources you will need. You will have further access to the Fine Art, Photography, Sculpture and Print studios. The Textiles department produces a pack of useful equipment that you will be required to purchase at the beginning of the first term.  The College has Student Support Fund for those students who have difficulty meeting these costs.

A sewing machine at home is an advantage especially one that can do free machine embroidery. Access to a digital camera would also be helpful.

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Mathematics and English.

It is possible to combine Textiles with either Fine Art, Photography, Three Dimensional Design or Graphics. However, this needs to be considered very carefully as the deadline days for each of these subjects are the same. Therefore, students who combine arts subjects need to be very well organised.

Most Recent Results

Below is a summary of the most recent set of results for this subject:

Grade: A* A B C D E U Total
Total: 10 15 26 0 0 0 0 51
Percentage 19.6 29.4 51.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0