College hits back at fashion teaching criticism

FASHION teachers and students in Waltham Forest have hit back at criticism that colleges are failing to teach young people the practical skills needed to succeed in the tough industry.
Skillfast, the skills council for the fashion industry, says young people are unable to find work because practical skills, including pattern-cutting, sample-making and machining, are being left out of college courses in favour of fashion design.
Research by Skillfast has also shown that five per cent of the workforce, about 17,000 people, have stayed on beyond retirement age because employers cannot find skilled younger replacements

Skillfast chief executive Linda Florance said: "The UK model for competitiveness requires highly skilled people with a broad range of practical talents, but the education and training system just is not delivering enough of them."
But modern college courses have been vigorously defended by Penny Holden, Head of the School of Arts at Waltham Forest College.
She said that all fashion courses at the college, in Forest Road, include pattern cutting and sewing.
She said "We have a history of producing students with very good technical skills that goes back 40 years. Our teachers have industry experience and are practitioners who work outside and for the most part do their teaching on a part-time basis."

Ms Holden said nine in 10 Waltham Forest College fashion students go on to university while the others find work in the industry.
She added that the college aims to create an "industry-style" environment to replicate a real sample room.
The college's methods were also defended by former student Alison Donohue, who now works for top designers Pascale Smets and Jaeger.
She said "I gained invaluable technical skills from my course at the college. I now work for a number of well-known companies as a sample garments technician responsible for making prototypes for their collections."
Skillfast has launched a campaign, called Behind the Seams, calling on politicians to support more workplace-based training in the industry.

Check out the latest show of the students creations below!