Textiles & Fashion Maker T Level
September 2025 start

The T Level in Fashion and Textiles is being provided by the awarding body Pearsons, which is highly supported by the UK Government. Pearsons is widely known for their excellent status within the field of education, preparing all students for industry by ensuring industry experience is inbuilt into students learning. This award will prepare you for job opportunities within the chosen field of the creative crafts for Fashion and Textiles. Due to the nature of this course, this course is set to challenge high GCSE and BTEC achievers, as they progress forth with their ambitions.

This qualification has been designed to maximise your career prospects and widen your progression opportunities by introducing work experience and enrichment activities that will be built into your study programme. This will enable you to engage with numerous employers of all natures, gaining further experience of industry standard equipment and processes, as well as building on the knowledge required for the creative industry.

Here at Bolton College, we take pride of our facilities, but also our teaching standards, as we provide you with industry specialist lecturers that can support you with portfolio developments, live briefs with local industry connections and all progression opportunities.


This qualification is an excellent starting point for those wishing to become, but not limited to, a:

Fashion Designer

Interior Designer

Costume Designer

Costumier

Seamstress

Fashion and Media Stylist

Garment Technologist

Pattern Cutter



You will have the opportunity to explore materials, methods and processes that support art and design activities, as well as developing technical skills in areas suited for both traditional and digital design (CAD). All of this will be completed using the industry standards equipment and process, preparing you for future progressions.

Throughout this course you will need to undertake numerous tasks in order to successfully fulfil the courses requirements. These include:

• Perspectives and approaches
• Understanding and adapting practical methods and skills for creative production
• Critically reviewing the effectiveness and appropriateness of methods, actions and results
• Using evaluative and reflective skills
• Research, planning, time management and actions to access progression opportunities
• Presenting yourself and your work to appropriate audiences


Your Study Programme consists of the following elements:

• Study of your chosen vocational subject - 50% of your programme
• Employability skills, such as punctuality, attendance, communication and team work
• Work experience or an Industry Placement, giving you a taste of working life
• Tutorial and personal development, such as healthy living, volunteering and citizenship skills

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs, graded 9-4, including English and Maths
• Art GCSE or Level 2 equivalent

You will be assessed by practical activities and investigations over the course for two years. Your portfolio of evidence, course work and exam will determine the success of this qualification.

Yearly Breakdown:



Year 1:

You will start the year off with theory and coursework, understanding the foundations of the creative practice involved in Fashion and Textiles.

Following the preparation of theory your will undergo an exam. This is 30% of your overall course mark.

You will continue building on theory and finalising coursework, ahead of your entrance to second year. By the end of the year, you will have completed Task 1, 2 and your exam.



Year 2:

You will complete work experience with a company that is provided to you by the college. The college has a range of contacts, so that you can complete this experience in multiple fields, which furthermore supports you in finding the most suitable placement for your development.

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After you have completed the programme, your natural progression would be to enter the vocation of the role you had completed your work placement in, due to the experience you have gained and talents you will have adopted. However, opportunities to go to University or progress to an Apprenticeships are also available. Check out opportunities through the Awarding Body, University of the Arts London, www.arts.ac.uk, or with our partnership university, the University of Bolton, www.bolton.ac.uk

Following further study, you could work as a:

• Fashion/Interior Designer, earning up to £38,000 per annum or more.
• Pattern Cutter/Garment Technologist (CAD), earning up to £48,000 per annum or more.
• Costumier, earning up to £52,000 per annum or more.

We have a range of dedicated support and wellbeing services including FREE travel; FREE breakfast; dedicated Learning Development Mentors (LDMs); impartial advice and guidance; dedicated one-to-one support for learners with additional needs; and support with the cost of College, plus much more.

Sitting a job interview, writing a personal statement, applying for university - taking part in our enrichment programme will give you a CV to wow in all of these situations! You’ll benefit from departmental and cross-college enrichment with:

• Inspiring trips and experiences
• Meetings with industry experts
• Visits to leading companies in your sector

As well as giving you essential professional and technical skills, you’ll demonstrate that you’re a successful and well-rounded person, helping you to make a lasting impression.

We want you to have fun, so we also have plenty of leisure and sporting activities for you to enjoy, improving your health and wellbeing

As part of our Pre-Professionals Programme, you'll have your own personal Learning Development Mentor, supporting you throughout your time at College. You'll also have access to a Careers Advisors and Work Placement Officer - they'll help you to manage your studies; oversee your progress; aid in your personal development; and enrich your learning, giving you exposure to not only employers, but leading companies in your sector.

You'll benefit from masterclasses, industry visits and project-based learning, and you'll also receive support with CV writing, personal statements, mock interviews and more, so that when it comes to the crunch, you have the skills and confidence to impress.

We’re an elite College, and part of the University of Bolton Group, offering you a gateway to all of Greater Manchester’s vast range of fantastic opportunities for specialist careers, university degree courses and higher Apprenticeships.

We’ll reward your achievements with trips to The Anderton Outdoor Activity Centre and the opportunity to apply for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Our £75 million campus offers a refurbished fitness suite and sports hall; Apple Mac suites; libraries, a lecture theatre; hair and beauty salon; and a restaurant, café and canteen.

You’ll also enjoy a wide range of events, including showcases, enterprise activities and cultural celebrations.

Click the yellow ‘Apply’ button on this page.

You’ll be asked to set up a Learner Hub account so that you can track your application and enrol online. You’ll also be asked to book your interview for your course at the same time.

If you have any difficulties setting up your Learner Hub account, please email learner.hub@boltoncc.ac.uk

Open Events are the best way to discover what life as a Bolton College student is like, giving you an insight into College life.

Open Events at our Deane Road Campus are as follows:

• Tuesday 17th October 2023, 5pm-8pm
• Thursday 12th December 2024, 5pm-8pm
• Wednesday 12th February 2025, 5pm-8pm
• Thursday 20th March 2025, 5pm-8pm
• Wednesday 30th April 2025, 5pm-8pm
• Thursday 19th June 2025, 5pm-8pm

If you’d like to attend one of these events, register here

Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate, there may be changes to this programme and provision. We will endeavour to keep prospective and current students updated where appropriate and when the information becomes available.