November was an exciting month at the Chippendale School, as we welcomed our new class of Professional Course students to the workshops of our furniture making school. The start of term brought with it 26 new faces and lots of inspiring energy from our latest pupils.
We are really looking forward to seeing how they develop their skills over the coming nine months of hard work. They will learn essential furniture design and woodworking techniques, with our expert tutors giving their insight so students can grow into master fine furniture makers and start their own businesses.
A new challenge
With every new Professional Course, we see a huge variety of people from all over the world who all have unique experiences with woodworking and reasons for attending the Chippendale School.
This year, we have the usual eclectic mix of students – one was previously working as a veterinary surgeon, while another was a tailor on Savile row – but all have a common interest in woodworking!
There are also, as usual, a range of woodworking skills from our students. Some have no woodworking experience whatsoever, while some have tinkered with furniture for years as a hobby. No matter what their experience, the Professional Course will enable them to make fine furniture as a career and give them the skills to set up their own woodworking business.
Looking forward to 2021
The next 8 months has a lot in store for our new students!
The course will cover skills from practical cabinet making to design, restoration and commercial skills, and is the equivalent of at least three years at college. This learning experience will give them over 1400 hours of bench time and one-to-one tuition with our master tutors.
This year, students can look forward to visits from external woodworking and design professionals too, including Isla Munro (Drawing), Michael Fortune (Wood forming techniques), Scott Grove (Veneering), Tom Thackray and Steve Langton (Windsor chair making), Adam Stone (Woodturning), John White (Woodcarving) and Richard Walker (Gilding) .
Follow our students’ progress
Our new students had a variety of reasons for studying with us at the Chippendale School. For example, for former History teacher Josh Cadman, it was the “opportunity to build a business and expand on a passion”.
While for Gary Stewart, who previously worked in the oil and gas industry, it was “the chance to retrain and make a living doing something I care about”.
To follow our students’ journeys from the first sketches to the realisation of their fine furniture designs at our Graduate Exhibition, make sure you follow us on Instagram and Facebook, where we’ll be posting updates on their progress.
If you’re also interested in learning how to make a career out of woodworking skills, check out the details of the Chippendale School’s intensive 30-week Professional Course here and don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions.