Pupils embrace innovation through Textiles and Design

Tuesday 6th January 2026

Creative pupils from a wide range of Senior School year groups enjoyed making their way through their Textiles Technology and Design Technology courses during the Autumn Term.

Hat Works Museum

As part of their GCSE studies, Fourth Year Textiles pupils enjoyed a trip to Stockport’s Hat Works Museum.

During the inspiring day out, which was linked in with the ‘Fabric Construction’ theory topic, pupils learnt all about the fabric construction of felt and the traditional processes used to create the felt for the hat designs that used to be manufactured there.

They also took part in a felting workshop where they created their very own sample to take home.

Aviva Studios

A mixture of Textiles pupils from Third Year to Upper Sixth embraced the opportunity to travel to Aviva Studios in central Manchester to watch the immersive video experience ‘Vogue: Inventing The Runway’.

The footage provided historical information relating to fashion in general. This was followed up with a focus on fashion designers past, present, and up-and-coming.

The experience was really engaging with lots of visual inspiration, interviews and iconic fashion shows from around the world in the most extraordinary locations.

The pupils really enjoyed the experience and came away from the trip feeling inspired by the world of fashion.

Drawstring Bags Project

For their course, Third Year Textiles pupils produced stunning and professionally finished drawstring bags.

With a high level of effort and skill, pupils used computer-aided design and a CNC embroidery machine to design their own embroidery for their bags.

Textiles Teacher Mrs Katy Gate said: “The final outcomes were fantastic, and the pupils should all be really proud of their hard work. Well done!”

Flying Mobiles and Cushion Covers

First Years loved getting into the workshops in the Technology Centre to work on their projects during the Autumn Term.

In Design Technology, pupils utilised their creative skills to construct a flying mobile.

Each pupil designed and made a mobile using new workshop techniques, such as using the coping saws, scroll saws, spray painting, bobbin and disk sanders, along with the pillar drill.

The Lower School pupils had fun working independently in the workshop and produced some very creative outcomes.

In Textiles, pupils created a cushion cover, during which they learnt decorative techniques such as block printing, applique, and embroidery. They also learnt to use the sewing machines to assemble their cushions.