Design and Technology: Fashion and Textiles subject update

Welcome to our autumn 2026 newsletter

Welcome back. We hope you've had a restful and enjoyable summer and are feeling refreshed for another exciting year of inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers, innovative problem-solvers and food innovators.

This promises to be a particularly important term as we hope to receive feedback from the Department for Education's (DfE) consultation on the draft programmes of study, ahead of the publication of the final National Curriculum programmes of study in spring 2027. With assessment reform on the horizon, we're committed to keeping the lines of communication open and ensuring support continues to be available as we navigate these changes together. We hope the changes ahead will create even more opportunities for your students to develop the knowledge, skills and creativity they'll need for the future.

It's also an exciting time here at AQA. We've expanded our Design and Technology, Engineering and Food subject support team, enabling us to provide even more dedicated support for teachers. You'll find introductions to the team below, and we look forward to getting to know many more of you over the coming months.

We hope you enjoy this edition of our termly update, packed with updates, resources, events, competitions, CPD opportunities and practical support for Design and Technology, Engineering and Food. We're here to support you throughout the year. If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions, please get in touch using any of the contact details below.

If any members of your team would like to receive subject-specific updates, they can easily sign up for AQA subject updates , so they’re always informed and part of our community.

A quick hello from us...

Hi, I'm Lucy, and I'm delighted to be joining AQA as the Subject Lead for Design and Technology, Engineering and Food Preparation and Nutrition this September.

Design & Technology has been at the heart of my career for more than 20 years. I've worked across primary, secondary and post-16 education as a teacher, leader and school improvement partner, supporting curriculum development, subject leadership and professional learning.

I'm passionate about helping teachers and leaders feel confident and well supported. As our subjects continue to evolve through curriculum and qualification reform, I look forward to working with schools, sharing practical guidance, resources and opportunities to support teaching and learning.

I look forward to getting to know the Design and Technology, Engineering and Food Preparation and Nutrition communities and working with you over the coming year.

Hello, I’m Deepti and I’m delighted to introduce myself as one of the Subject Support Managers for Design and Technology, Engineering, and Food Preparation and Nutrition.

I have spent much of my career in the classroom before moving into curriculum management, teacher mentoring, and qualification delivery across specialist educational settings. Having taught D&T for many years, I understand the opportunities and challenges teachers face and the importance of practical, reliable support.

Building strong relationships with educators is at the heart of my role. I’m here not only to help with questions and queries, but also to provide ongoing support and guidance, as well as subject expertise, throughout the year.

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss ideas, challenges or support needs. I look forward to working with you and supporting you in delivering meaningful and engaging D&T education for your students.

Hi, I'm Kimberley. I joined AQA as a Subject Support Manager for Design and Technology, Engineering and Food Preparation and Nutrition in June and have enjoyed getting to know our subject communities over the summer.

I've spent more than 15 years working in education in the UK and internationally, starting as a Design and Technology teacher before moving into middle and senior leadership. Throughout my career, I've supported curriculum development, teaching and learning, assessment and professional development.

The next few years will be an important time for our subjects, and I'm looking forward to supporting teachers as we prepare for qualification reform. Through updates, resources, events and conversations, we'll be here to help you navigate the changes and stay informed.

One of the best parts of this role is connecting with teachers, so I'd love to hear from you. Whether you have a question, need guidance or want to share ideas and best practice, please get in touch.

Help shape the future of digital assessment

We’d like to hear about your experiences of digital teaching, learning and assessment through a short survey.

By sharing your experiences, you’ll help us shape the guidance, resources and support teachers need as digital assessment continues to evolve.

The survey contains 24 questions, takes around 12 minutes to complete and closes on 1 November 2026. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter a prize draw for the chance to win one of four £50 gift vouchers.

Curriculum Connect sessions

Join us for our upcoming Curriculum Connect sessions and get ready for the year ahead with practical guidance, subject expertise and key updates.

• A-level D&T Fashion and Textiles: Exploring summer 2026 – Friday 25 September, 4pm–5.15pm

A detailed review of examiner reports and key learning from the most recent 2026 exam series.

• A-level D&T Fashion and Textiles: NEA planning – Thursday 8 October, 4pm–5.15pm

An interactive session that provides teachers with a clear understanding of the NEA brief, delivery approaches, AI guidance and teaching ideas, supported by exemplar material.

Early Career Teachers: We'd love to hear from you 

We’re excited to be expanding our support for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in D&T: Fashion and Textiles, and we’d love you to be part of it.

We’ll be launching a monthly ECT drop-in session, creating a welcoming space to connect with fellow teachers, ask questions, share experiences and access support from the AQA D&T team. And this is just the beginning.

We’re keen to shape this provision around what matters most to you and your setting. Whether it’s subject knowledge, assessment, curriculum planning, NEA support, resource sharing or networking opportunities, we’d love to hear your ideas.

Your feedback will play a key role in helping us develop meaningful and practical support for ECTs. To join our ECT mailing list or share your ideas, please email us at DandT@aqa.org.uk and become part of our growing ECT network.

Student Advisory Group recruitment for 2026/27

Help your learners influence the future of exams

We’re looking for learners to join our Student Advisory Group for 2026/27.  The group gives young people a direct opportunity to share their experiences and views on qualifications, assessments and the wider exam system. Their insights will help shape the future of the curriculum, qualifications and assessments for young people, as well as our work to offer new vocational qualifications.

If you know any learners who may be interested, please encourage them to apply – we’re looking for students who have taken AQA qualifications, though this is not essential, and they can be sitting general or vocational qualifications.

Applications open: Monday 7 September 2026

Applications close: 5.00pm on Monday 21 September 2026

Thank you for helping us raise awareness of this opportunity among your learners. For more information about the Student Advisory Group and details on how to apply, please visit our website.

Post-results services

Log into myAQA for post-results services including:

• Data Insights on Centre Services – see how your school, subject, class and individual students have performed and dig deeper into your students’ results
• Find summer 2026 question papers, mark schemes and examiners’ reports, all in one place on Centre Services
• Find each of the grade boundaries on our website and the overall  results statistics  with cumulative pass rates for the whole AQA cohort
• See our post-results services summary guide.