The Sixth Form Bolton is delighted to announce that it will be launching an A Level in Textiles from September 2026. This exciting course will give students the opportunity to explore the world of fashion, interiors, and surface design while developing their own unique creative voice.
The UK textiles industry is worth £9 billion to the economy, and this figure is expected to increase as employment in the sector continues to grow year on year. The Textiles A Level is a fantastic stepping stone for students hoping to progress into careers in fashion, textiles, interiors, or product design.
The Expressive Arts department at The Sixth Form is well established, already offering A Level Art, Graphic Design, and Photography, as well as a Triple Vocational UAL course in Art, Craft & Design. Among the students who left in September 2025 was Cami Wong, a former Westhoughton High School student, who achieved A* grades in A Level Fine Art and Graphic Design, alongside an A in Sociology, and progressed to study Illustration with Animation at Manchester Metropolitan University. Reflecting on her time in the Expressive Arts department, Cami commented:
“The teachers encouraged me to push my creativity further than I thought possible.”
Leah Kirkman, a former Smithills School student, progressed to the University of Salford to study Graphic Design. Leah achieved a B in A Level Graphic Design and Distinctions in Single Vocational Music and Performing Arts. She commented:
“Being part of The Sixth Form’s creative community inspired me so much. The encouragement to experiment and take risks made all the difference in my growth as an artist.”
Staff at The Sixth Form are looking forward to the new addition to the curriculum, with Vice Principal – Curriculum, Quality and Students, Joanne Smith, commenting:
"We strongly value creative subjects here at the Sixth Form Bolton not only because of the exciting careers they lead to but also the way in which they encourage students to develop a wide range of skills such as self expression, critical thinking, creativity and adaptability. After receiving feedback from our local community and our stakeholder partners we have decided to add A level Textiles to our already comprehensive creative and expressive arts offer to allow our students to explore what is becoming one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the UK and beyond."
Debbie Wynne, Head of Art at The Sixth Form, added:
"Introducing A Level Textiles is a natural and exciting step for our department. Creativity thrives when students are given the opportunity to explore new materials, processes and ideas, and this course will open doors to all of that and more. We are committed to nurturing young designers who are confident, ambitious and industry-ready, and we can’t wait to see the innovative work our future Textiles students will produce."
Applications for September 2026 entry to The Sixth Form Bolton close on 30 January 2026.
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