TEXTILES

Year 11

In Year 11 work begins with research. This must be completed through the summer holidays to give the students an idea of the project they will be undertaking, which will count for 60% of the GCSE grade. The physical product makes up 40% of this, whilst the remaining 20% will be accounted for in the written coursework produced.
The main exam at the end of the year provides the final 40% of the marks, but this shows how essential the coursework really is. The final product must be of a high quality and utilise a number of skills. The work itself is fast-paced and a number of deadlines must be met.

It is often challenging, and requires much hard work and commitment. Although the processes themselves are very similar to those followed in lower years, the quality must be much higher to ensure a good final grade. Notes are taken to prepare for revision, which is particularly important, in order to ensure that problems during an exam are minimised.

Although the coursework does make up a large portion of the final grade, it is important that students do remain focused upon the exam. Students are given a preparation sheet approximately two months before the exam, to enable them to research and revise in a more specific way. The revision process
can be long, but it can easily be broken down into manageable sections.

The exam itself is focused upon the completion of a project, and looks specifically at the practicalities and industrial processes involved in creating more than one copy of a specific garment. This is a very involved process and requires students to create a number of designs along with specifications and production plans etc., in order to create a professional and well-planned garment which creates a good impression on the examiners.