Manchester is at the forefront of the global and online fashion trade with several leading brands based in the heart of the city. The UK fashion industry contributes around £32 billion per year to the economy, supporting over 890,000 jobs across a range of retail, online, design, and fashion business roles. These talents are showcased during London fashion week, which takes place twice a year and is one of the top four most important fashion business events internationally. This course is designed to give students the ideal start to a career in one of the most dynamic and fast paced fields in the creative economy.

Outline

The UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Fashion and Textiles is an exciting, intensive and in-depth introduction to the fashion and textiles industries. This is a full-time level 3 course, equivalent to studying three A levels and is designed for those students who have set their sights on a career in a fashion and/or textiles related field such as design, promotion, or buying.
Within the Schools of Creative Arts at Pendleton Sixth Form we are very much focused on developing the necessary skills, critical thinking and individual voice to allow each student the chance to discover their specific strengths and creative direction. Students will develop visual language skills working in a two-dimensional, three-dimensional and time-based formats whilst responding to a range of creative assignment briefs designed to really test their creative problem-solving abilities.
The level 3 Fashion and Textiles course is specifically designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of fashion and textiles design alongside a range of practical skills development needed to work in the fashion, textiles or interior design industry. Students will be introduced to drawing for creative practice, printmaking and surface pattern, fabric manipulation, garment construction, research skills to support ideas development and contextual studies related to for example ethics and sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. At the end of both year one and year two students are required to complete a final project which allows them to write their own creative brief and therefore personalise their practice. Practical work will be supported throughout by guest speakers and live briefs (set by external organisations or professional creative practitioners) which will push student’s creativity further, developing a solid understanding of their place within the global creative community.

Most of our students choose to progress to study on one of a wide range of degree courses offered at universities across the United Kingdom before going on to work in what we believe is the most exciting and dynamic employment sector in the country. Studying at degree level is still one of the best ways to secure employment in the Creative Industries and as part of the course our students benefit from expert careers advice and support in choosing and applying to higher education or looking for alternative routes to employment.

This qualification is awarded by University of the Arts, London Awarding Body (UAL), the only specialist art and design awarding body in the UK and is highly regarded in this country and internationally. We deliver UAL qualifications because they inspire students to reach their true potential and have high achievement rates due to their relevance to industry needs, and student progression plans.

All work is externally moderated by specialist creative practitioners appointed by UAL to ensure fairness of assessment and that national standards are maintained.

You can follow us on:

Instagram: @pendletonschoolofcreativearts
Twitter: @creativeartspen

Entry Requirements

To study at Level 3, students will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 which must include a GCSE grade 4 (or above) in English Language (or English Literature as an alternative). Students who enroll on this course will typically have a broad range of GCSEs 9-4 which will typically include a GCSE (or vocational) qualification in a creative subject. Applicants who do not have a creative qualification will need to demonstrate that they have the necessary knowledge, skills and interest to succeed on the course usually via a portfolio of creative work produced outside of the school environment.

If students do not meet the requirements fully, they can start their journey on one of our two Level 2 UAL qualifications designed to prepare students fully for level 3 study.