It’s always a pleasure to welcome students coming to us straight from school because, in our opinion, too few careers guidance teachers are aware of furniture design and making as a career option.

Joshua Godbert, from Herefordshire, showed himself to be a skilled craftsman able to execute both design and making with panache.

His first major piece was a complex oak and yew cabinet, with spalted beech shelves and drawer, with an internal arch comprising several pieces of oak that had to be precisely coopered for a perfect fit.

But we particularly liked his sycamore coffee table with a sunburst geometric pattern in mahogany veneer, creating an entirely functional piece of furniture to an excellent standard.

It’s a reflection of his skill that Joshua had no background in woodworking, although a one-week introductory course at the Chippendale school confirmed that woodworking was the right career option for him.

Joshua’s longer-term ambition is to set up his own company although he’s first going to gain some additional experience in a woodworking business in his home county of Hertfordshire.