Fashion & Textiles
Our students take great pride in creating the most beautiful embroideries, learning about Serti silk painting, screen printing gorgeous home furnishings, making bespoke and very cute cuddly toys as well as producing innovative and exclusive high-fashion garments ready for the runway! The world of fashion here is anything but boring, and our students consistently rate Textiles as their favourite lesson of the week!
In our modern Textiles suite, we aim to stimulate interest and enjoyment in Textiles design. Textiles is taught from Year 5 to Year 8, with Year 6 upwards enjoying the subject all year round.
Students learn to design, develop and create a selection of quality textile items, and are encouraged to draw inspiration from existing art and craft items as well as the world around them, locally and globally. We strongly encourage them to consider the environmental impact of their design ideas and projects.
Pupils are shown how to make beautiful textile items using quality recycled or sustainable materials; they learn how to make their own technical patterns and continue to develop hand and machine sewing skills as well as decorative sewing techniques. Using a range of specialist machinery and equipment, projects include cultural cushions, CADCAM, cyanotype photo print t-shirts, hand-made cuddly toys, felted wool handbags and fashion garments.
We also run an extra-curricular Textiles club, which is attended by all year groups from Year 7 to Sixth Form.
Students will explore the creative, commercial and technical aspects of fashion, studying major historical design styles and movements such as Art Nouveau, Pop Art and Punk as well as influential fashion designers including Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. In addition, they will study socio-economic influences: street culture, music and media, world events, the rise of youth culture and anti-authoritarian attitudes, music, film, royalty and celebrities as well as the role of women in society, design theory and other associated topics. Students will develop skills in a range of communication and presentation techniques for conveying design proposals; this could include the use of mixed media, drawing, fashion photography and video.
Meet Mrs Finnegan, Head of Fashion & Textiles
Mrs Finnegan studied BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, where a world-class design education fostered her passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation. After starting a family, she retrained as a specialist Food and Nutrition, Fashion and Textiles teacher, gaining a PGCE in Fashion, Textiles, and Food and Nutrition from the University of Exeter.
With over 20 years of industry experience, Mrs Finnegan has worked as a Head Designer and created womenswear collections for numerous high-street brands and designer diffusion lines. Her admiration for Alexander McQueen reflects her belief in design as a powerful tool for storytelling, identity, and inclusivity.
At The Maynard, Mrs Finnegan draws on her extensive professional background to lead Food & Nutrition and Fashion & Textiles. She is passionate about nurturing creativity, practical skills, and confidence, encouraging and inspiring students to appreciate craftsmanship, sustainability, and ethical choices in both fashion and food. Through the PSHE curriculum, she also encourages open discussion, critical thinking, and empathy, helping students develop confidence and emotional intelligence.
Outside school, Mrs Finnegan enjoys swimming, gardening, sewing, cooking with seasonal produce, and learning French.
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