First of all, a very happy New Year from everyone at the Chippendale school.

Last year was the tercentenary of Thomas Chippendale’s birth – after whom the school is named, so it was a big year for us.

This year, our resolution is to go on celebrating the great man’s achievements and go on instilling in our students the ethos that made him so successful.

We think that’s a good resolution, because most New Year resolutions are about giving things up.

Eating less to lose weight, or giving up giving up alcohol for January, or quitting smoking.

But the trouble is we’re not good at sticking to them because we like food, alcohol and cigarettes.

It’s estimated that 80% of people making resolutions will have given up on them in less than three months, mostly because they were unrealistic goals.

Our advice is not to give something up, but to do something that you’ve always wanted to do.

If woodworking is your secret passion, why not enrol on one of our week-long introductory courses? You’ll learn a great deal in that week, meet like-minded woodworkers, and have a great time.

Also, if you later decide to enrol in our immersive 30-week professional course, your course fees for the introductory week are refunded in full.

It would be a New Year resolution that could change your life!