Foundation Degree in Art and Textiles

[Guardup]

I’m a currently a SAHM with 3 children. My youngest is to start school in September and so I’m now thinking long and hard about what I want to do.

I went straight into work from my GCSEs and had a successful career in banking. I do know that absolutely don’t want to go back to that. Commuting to London is not going to work for my family dynamics.

My passion is sewing and so I want to look into going to a creative career. I have my own workroom at home and would like to offer an alteration service in the short term, but my ideal job would be to be a textile teacher. I am a Governor at an academy of schools and so I have some (light) experience of this.

I have just looked at the UCAS application and I’m filled with dread. I have 3 hurdles to overcome and any experience/support would be hugely appreciated.

Hurdle 1

I’m in my 40s and no longer have my GCSE results. I’ve contacted my old school for them to tell my the examination board so hopefully I might be able to apply for them. What do I do if I can’t get them?

Hurdle 2

There is 1 course I want to do at 1 setting. Am I majorly limiting my chances of success? Does every application get an interview?

Hurdle 3

I need to do a personal statement and create a portfolio. The personal statement should be fine. I want this so much I am going to put aside the knotting stomach anxiety and just sell sell sell myself. The portfolio is just another matter entirely. I don’t know what they are looking for. All helpful YouTube videos show these fashionista 18 year olds manipulating plastic milk bottles into a skirt. That’s not me. I am more into tailoring beautiful natural materials into a workable capsule wardrobe of hues of navy, grey and black. I want to hone my skills in finishing garments not prove that I can make netting from a bunch a satsuma a wearable head piece. Has anyone created a portfolio that can give me some guidance?

The course is 6k a year for 2 years.
I then can do a top up to a BA for 1 year at around 9k (depending on where I do it)
I can then apply for a PCGE if I want to try and go for a teaching position. Note - I appreciate this is a very niche job but someone has to do it- why not me?

Since finding this course I am just obsessed. I have an open day in November and hoping I might see some portfolio examples.

Anyone with any help/advice/ or just someone in the industry that can give any guidance I’d be so grateful!

Now we’re talking …

Completely different background - but that was exactly how the perfect course obsessed me when I discovered it. Also at a specialist institution. (And I was a fair bit older than you.)

Hurdle 1. I was about to ask why you would need your GCSE certificates / grades - but now see that if that was your highest academic qualification they ‘may’ want them. But have you checked with the desired institution? You’ve obviously had a career - I’d be surprised if they won’t take that as clear evidence of having at least the minimum necesssry qualifications. Do ask, if you haven’t.

Hurdle 2. I only applied to one place after at least a decade of rejecting any other possibility. So … IME, in this sort of situation, by the time you formally apply you should know whether these particular tutors definitely want you on this particular course. Don’t just send in a random application. Email the teaching person who volunteers to be contacted on their website. Ask to meet (zoom if necessary) so you can tell them why you’ve fallen in love with the course, where you are now in terms of skills and talent, what you can offer, what you can’t. They should then tell you what you need to do to be in a position to make a successful application. All this is informal.

Hurdle 3. Your vision of your own design leanings is entirely persuasive. Tell them that. (Without denigrating anyone else’s work!) If they think you have potential, and if they’re nice, they’ll say useful things and give you some guidance on your next steps.

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I am currently sitting at my laptop with my UCAS application half completed in front of me. Having seen your advice I’m going to not press send until I’ve spoken to a tutor.

But in the meantime…

Great news re the GCSEs…. I actually found my old paper copies! But just in case anyone reads this in the future…..

My old school couldn’t help me, as they only hold records until you are 21. They gave me some examination boards that might help, but you need to know what GCSE you took under what examination board and it incurs a fee. My old school were unable to help here. So I would have been able to find them, but it would have been painful.

Thank the lord for my mum and her hoarding!

I have already contacted the college regarding the fees so will see if I’m able to speak to the tutor as you suggested. What a great idea. I am swinging between ‘they will want me on the course because I’m going to work so hard and soak up every bit of information they have. I have loads of home learnt skills because I love sewing so much and have made such an effort to improve’ to ‘why would the accept me, I only have GCSEs, why didn’t I try harder at school? I should just give up now, I’m not cool/fashionable/creative enough to actually think I can do a degree in this- go back to counting cash you stupid woman!’

As for my 3rd hurdle you are completely right- It would be completely wrong of me to denigrate someone’s work. I think this is just my huge insecurity in being a little bit ‘grey’ when it comes to fashion. I look like a SAHM to 3 children. I don’t look like a fashion student and don’t want to push the boundaries particularly. I want to make beautifully cut couture pieces that stand the test of time. I guess if that’s not what they are looking for it isn’t the right course for me.

I am so darn excited though!

Xx

You have no idea how excited I am for you!

But good grief - were you really just going to make a formal UCAS application without speaking to the institution first?

Very glad your mother hoarded your certificates.

Honestly - in my experience educational institutions love talented mature students and are far more interested in seeing evidence of your current pursuit of the subject, and hearing that you’re prepared to learn, than they are in your 17th century school exams.

I tried to Google your course, but there are a few to choose from …

I have loads of home learnt skills because I love sewing so much and have made such an effort to improve This is what you need to show and tell them.

One other thought - now that you’re holding off precipitate applying. Even though you’re only seriously interested in one place, if there are any other courses that offer something roughly similar, it might be a good idea to enquire and maybe apply. Because the more focused contact you have with relevant institutions, the more you’ll learn what such places are looking for - which will help your formal application to the place you want. And you’ll be able to ask your preferred place better questions because you’ll have a better idea of all the possibilities.

Sorry - I could go on for ever about this!

ha ha in all honesty, yes, I absolutely was about to make my formal application without speaking to the institution! I have booked on to the Open Day and emailed them. They said that an application based on a portfolio would be fine and apply via UCAS... so I thought... ok I will. This is completely new to me. Believe it or not I was actually very high up in a corporate job before I had the children. This is just so nerve wracking and exciting. I feel quite giddy at the chance of a new chapter.

On a good point at least I have my personal statement written now. Just for any future readers I asked myself these questions and answered them:

Why do I want to study this subject?
What do I love about it?
What is my creative process?
What is my final goal/career aspirations?
What am I looking forward to in the course?
What do I do to support my interest now.
What are my transferable skills.

That was the basis of my personal statement. It actually didn't take too long and its quite to the point, punchy and sounds like I am speaking (as appose to waffle). I've asked a few RL friends to read it too. I'm pretty happy with it.

So I'll hold fire on applying until I have actually managed to speak with someone and see the facilities. Of course that makes perfect sense - I don't know what I was thinking!

Thanks for your supportive words. I am going to take a deep breath, believe in myself, get working on my portfolio and find out what they are looking for in a student.

I will keep this post updated for anyone in the future taking the journey.

Provided I get called for an interview...........

If you can contact the uni and ask to chat to the course leader that might help with your GCSE issue. I did similar when I went back to do a Master's and had a lengthy call with the lecturer. It really helped put my mind at ease. At the end of the day it's a person judging the application and they can make exceptions/understand different .

Ps - have PM-Ed you, OP.

OP I'm excited for you! I second (third?) you speaking to the institution. Ask to speak to student reps or tutors of the course for their experience or advice also. I'm a student rep for my art based course and I speak to prospective students a lot.

No one makes the same kind of art during an art degree, so just communicate your passion and interests and don't worry too much. Good luck!

@TammyTwoSwanson thanks so much for your message.

I am just trying to stalk the tutor now! Unfortunately they don't have a student rep for this course (or similar). I have managed to locate a few previous students on Instagram via their end of year show. Their accounts are public so I might take the plunge and message them to see if they are willing to give some inside info.

I am in a bit of a panic now about my portfolio. I don't know if I should be collating all the work I've done over the last few years (which are all indi patterns with hacks to make them fit me, but pretty basic as its wearable clothes) or if I should be going wild and trying to start a project that shows a bit more creativity. My portfolio will be the only thing that will get me on the course.

Arghhh this is taking over my every waking thought!

There is no need for panic.

What is the deadline for submitting a portfolio?

Unless it’s in the next few days would it not be sensible to wait - until you’ve done the online open day, and had a chat with a tutor? Both of those things will give you a better idea of what’s required.

(My best guess, with no knowledge whatsoever, would be to choose pieces that together tell a story of development, from first ideas, through evolving skills, where you’re at now, indications of the direction you’re heading in … So maybe include a disaster, and an explanation of what you learnt from it and what you did differently the next time? But I’m just making this all up - could be completely wrong.)

Ask them!

As I understand it they ask for the portfolio based on the success of the application. So initially it the decision is based on my person statement. If they like that, then they will ask to see my portfolio.

The deadline for application isn't until January. They will contact me within 3 week of application if they want to see my the portfolio.

I haven't even started a portfolio, but I do have loads of bits I can use. So this is a huge bonus. However, my makes are purely for pleasure and a hobby, so they don't really follow a theme. Unless its 'Gosh I love that dress in Reiss but its £300, I'm going to buy a few meters of fabric online and see if I can replicate it in someway'. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it all goes very wrong when it comes out the washing machine!

I do, however, have oodles of ideas of what I'd like to make. I don't really have the skill currently. Unfortunately my ability doesn't match my desire. But..... I could plan these and present the ideas pretty well I think to show what I have in my mind I'd like to create.

My creative juices are flowing and my mind is throwing around all sorts of ideas.

I really must do some housework or my creative style might be replicating Tracey Emin!!

It would be really useful to have a thread on portfolio creation for postgraduate applications.

Any updates

Are you thinking of applying for something similar, @Lifesingflowers?

Yes I am thinking of it. I'm going back to college to do fashion and textile as I wanted to learn how to sew for my little girls. I always wanted a degree, so wanted to see if anyone did this degree as a mature student and how it work out for them

Ah - in that case it might be an idea to start a new thread, addressing beginner sew-ists?