by Dawn Foxall | Nov 10, 2024 | Articles, News, Research
DfE CALL FOR EVIDENCE
CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT REVIEW
DEADLINE 22nd NOVEMBER 2024
The government’s call for evidence invites US ALL to submit proposals on improving the current curriculum and assessment system.
This is the moment to have your say! – Complete the survey and save your subject and job!
The aim of the government survey is to review the current curriculum (both D&T and Art & Design)
We are encouraging teachers to contribute to the DfE’s request for evidence for this Curriculum Review. The more we shout about textiles the more likely they will listen!
The deadline is NOVEMBER 22nd so this needs to be done in next couple of weeks. You don’t need to answer all the questions as there are LOADS!!, just select a couple you can give evidence for.
We have done a bit of sorting through ourselves and created a quick answer/ideas document you might want to use as suggestions of what to write.
NB – YOU ONLY NEED ANSWER THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR!
This is not about rewriting the curriculum; it’s about reviewing and refining the current offer. It’s an opportunity for us to get those changes made we have all been moaning about;)
They need evidence so, when answering the questions, please provide specific examples and evidence to illustrate and support your responses.
YOU CAN FIND THE FULL ONLINE SURVEY HERE
For PDF version of questions click HERE
REMEMBER YOU DON’T NEED TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS JUST THOSE YOU HAVE EVIDENCE FOR.
We have read the whole survey and selected relevant questions and added a few suggestions for answers – our suggestions may be similar to your comments/ideas, so all you need to do is add these with evidence.
Click here to see our suggestions: TSC SUGGESTIONS
Evidence can include anything curriculum related from issues arising in your school such as moving from D&T to Art & Design Textiles, to examples of where the curriculum has disadvantaged pupils over others.
We all need to contribute if we want to ensure textiles stays in the curriculum, so please do respond, even if you only answer one question🙂
Thank you in anticipation of your support 🙂
Dawn, Nicky and the TSC Associates
by Dawn Foxall | Sep 30, 2024 | Articles, Competitions, News
This is a GREAT competition for your students!!
Let your students’ creativity bloom with the Wool4School 2025 competition. Get your class inspired by plant-life with this year’s competition theme: BOTANICALS.
Help your students to create a design that celebrates Merino wool and the enchanting world of plants, where you and your students could win a selection of amazing prizes on offer
Whether your students are inspired by fashion, accessories, or interior design, help them to explore nature’s artistry with Wool4School’s Botanicals theme.
Students can draw on the diversity of the plant kingdom with 1 – 4 designs made from at least 70% wool and get creative with shape, scale, colour, texture and textile
techniques from prints to embroidery and beyond.
TO REGISTER
FREE SUPPORT RESOURCES
THE PRIZES
by Dawn Foxall | Sep 16, 2024 | Articles, Charity Work, News
Textiles Skills Centre has linked with Epsom and St Helier hospitals charity to make calico dolls, for Children’s wards.
Our first donations have arrived in the children’s ward, thanks to our amazing teachers who have started to make the calico dolls and to Nicky, who has made some sensory squares for babies in ICU, worn initially by their parents, so the babies recognise the smell and are comforted.
Thanks to DRYAD Education for their fabric donation.
The nurses send a huge thank-you, they were so pleased, and added they were really impressed with the sewing!
More info on getting involved go to: CHARITY DOLLS
by Dawn Foxall | Aug 29, 2024 | Articles, News
STUDENT TEXTILE ARTIST 2025 COMPETITION
ENTRIES CLOSE ON 30th APRIL 2025
The Textile Skills Centre, student competition is back and this year we have 2 sponsors, as well as the coveted Textiles Skills Centre Trophies!
The competition is in 2 categories: KS4 & KS5 and after the closing date, 10 from each category are selected to go forward to the final judging panel.
The panel of Judges include industry experts who will select winners from the 10 finalists in each category.
SPONSORS:
JANOME UK & IRELAND Sewing Machines, who have kindly
given a sewing machine for each of the 2 winners.
AND
DRYAD EDUCATION (formerly Specialist Crafts/Heart Education) Who are giving a £50 voucher to the 2 winners schools and a goody bag to the first 3 places in each category.
Each winner will also get a TEXTILES SKILLS CENTRE TROPHY and each school will get a free Online TSC course.
ENTRIES CLOSE ON 30th APRIL 2025.
To advertise the competition to your students and encourage them to enter, please download the poster here and pin up around the school.
HOW TO ENTER THE COMPETITION – EITHER:
Take a photo of your (student) textile artwork and save it as your (student) name.
Follow these links to the relevant category and upload your jpg image to the GOOGLE ENTRY FORM, completing the details as instructed:
– GCSE CATEGORY: GCSE FORM
– A-LEVEL CATEGORY: A LEVEL FORM
OR
Download the entry form here and email us with the entry form and jpg image to us, completing the details as instructed.
*ADD TO BASKET & GO TO CHECKOUT TO COMPLETE & GET DOWNLOAD LINKS TO FORMS AND POSTER*
DOWNLOAD POSTER & ENTRY FORM
Teacher comment from last years competition:
‘this was an excellent extension and enrichment opportunity for our young people and we really appreciate your support, especially after the last few years.’
TEXTILES SKILLS CENTRE is managed by a small team of volunteers, who develop free resources and support teachers through the Textiles Teachers Centre and other networking activities.
A Donation would go towards paying for the website, newsletter and ongoing administration costs.
At the moment all costs are met by our team and time is given freely. Your donations, however small, will help to enhance and continue providing this support and resources.
To donate, please click the DONATE button below.
by Dawn Foxall | Aug 17, 2024 | Articles, News
MAKE A DOLL FOR CHARITY!
Textiles Skills Centre has linked with Epsom and St Helier hospitals charity to make calico dolls, for Children’s wards.
The Hospital Children’s Ward are looking for volunteers to help them make some Calico Dolls for children spending time in hospital.
The dolls serve as a means of expression. By drawing, decorating, and coloring the doll, the child can convey their fears or unhappiness, providing a distraction from their hospital stay.
Additionally, the child can indicate their injury or pain on the doll, facilitating more objective discussions with adults about their concerns. NHS staff also use the doll to demonstrate procedures, helping the child understand what to expect and reducing their fear and uncertainty. This often enables even very young children, as young as 2 or 3 years old, to undergo medical procedures more calmly.
This is a great project for after School Clubs, if you are running one. Each school receives a certificate. If you’d like more info and a pattern please contact nicky@textileskillscentre.com
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to BERNIE TRODDEN who is the first volunteer to make 10 dolls
