Textiles Technology

At Hasmonean, Textiles is offered to girls at KS3 and KS4 (GCSE), and in the Sixth Form at A/S and A Level. Students are given the opportunity to develop their capacity to design and make products, and to appreciate the complex relations between design, materials, manufacture and marketing. The subject will enable them to take a broad view of design and technology, and to develop a wide range of skills including working with others, thinking creatively and making products.

A Level Textiles prepares students for many areas in which analytical skills are required. Students learn problem solving and an understanding and application of specifications. Our students have gone on to study subjects such as Engineering, Ophthalmology, Physiology and Maths at University, and have followed career paths in areas such as design, fashion, merchandising and buying. The advertising and marketing professions always need creative people too, as does the manufacturing industry, for which our students are well-qualified.

Teachers

• Mrs L. Hyman
• Mrs G. Ziyambi
• Ms A. McMillan
• Ms L. Barnacle

KS3: Years 7-8

The following topics are covered at KS3:

• Practical key skills
• Working independently and in a group
• Industry and Industrial processes
• Design and make tasks
• Product analysis and disassembly
• Target markets
• Specifications
• Methods of production
• Flowcharts
• Organisation and meeting deadlines.

Students are also taught analytical and evaluation skills involving the application of value judgements (aesthetic, economic, moral and social) on their work.

KS4: Years 9-11 (GCSE)

In KS4, the following topics are covered:

• Making skills
• Problem solving
• Analysis and evaluation
• Modelling and testing
• Designing products and communicating ideas
• Materials and components
• Industrial practices
• Health and safety
• Systems and controls
• Marketing
• Quality control
• Moral, social, cultural, environmental and economic issues relating to product development.

Students are encouraged to work independently and in groups, learning through project tasks and course work. The use of information technology in industry is also demonstrated in the workshop with the use of computer assisted design and manufacture. The use of computers in quality control and sales is also explored.

Post 16

In the Sixth Form, students demonstrate and apply skills, knowledge and understanding of all relevant materials, processes and techniques, and use materials and equipment to produce suitable and appropriate outcomes. They will learn to communicate ideas and products, demonstrating strategies which will be evaluated.

Year 12 (A/S)

The A/S Level course covers the following areas:

• Sources and classification of the main fibre groups
• Yarn types and properties and the blending and mixing of fibres
• Fabric manufacture: woven, knitted, non-wovens and smart materials created to provide specific properties
• Fabric finishes and surface decoration
• Product components
• Industrial and commercial practice, manufacturing systems, ICT application, pattern drafting, product manufacture and environmental concerns
• Development of design, design in practice, communication methods and design in the human context.

Year 13 (A2)

At A2 Level, students cover the following areas:

• Major developments in Textiles Technology
• Testing and comparing the relative merits of fabrics in relation to their intended use
• Manipulation and combination of fabrics
• Product lifecycle and fashion cycles
• Designing in the human context
• Industrial and commercial practice, fabric manufacture and product manufacture.

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