Over the last forty years, Chippendale School of Furniture has seen hundreds of woodworking students progress into fine woodworkers and furniture makers. A key factor in their success is the dedication and expertise of our woodworking tutors, who consistently bring out the best in our students. The proof is in the pudding – recently we saw 13 of our very own graduates recognised in the 2024 Young Furniture Makers Exhibition!
Throughout the school’s history, we’ve been fortunate to have many talented tutors, some of whom have been with us since the very beginning. With this in mind, we know a thing or two about what makes a good woodworking tutor.
In this blog, we delve into what sets the tutors at Chippendale School apart.
Understanding Student Goals
A skilled woodworking tutor has a knack for identifying that each student has a unique way of working, just as they have distinct goals and aspirations. By understanding this, tutors can adapt their hands-on teaching to meet each student’s needs. That’s why, no matter your motivation, Chippendale has a course designed specifically for you. Whether you’re doing it for your own pleasure, or committing to a new career move, our personalised tutor approach will be built around your desired outcomes and what success looks like for you.
You can view our range of courses here.
Putting Theory into Practice
Practical experience should be valued equally to theoretical – there is no better way to learn than to get your hands dirty! Woodworking is a physical craft, and the required skills can only be fine-tuned in the workshop. Some of our tutors come from apprenticeship backgrounds, slowly honing their furniture making skills over the years. On our professional course, students are given up to 1400 hours of practical bench time – an ideal opportunity to observe our expert tutors in action and practice themselves.
Enthusiasm
An enthusiastic demeanour can significantly impact the effect you have on student learning. A tutor who openly shows their passion for woodworking can inspire students and create a more engaging learning experience. The Chippendale tutors are filled with adoration for their craft, as demonstrated by their extensive background in woodworking. Take, for example, our 10-week course tutor, Alan McGovern, who has been with us for an impressive 40 years!
Learn more about our great team here.
Communication
Effective communication is at the centre of our operations; otherwise, how else would we know we’re on the same page? We believe a good tutor uses affirming feedback to correct actions and gives plenty of opportunities for students to be curious. We keep our course sizes small, meaning students have plenty of time to chat with their tutors.
Encouraging Independence
After steering students in the right direction, it is time to encourage them to take matters into their own hands. While initial instruction is crucial, a good tutor gradually takes a step back to allow students to find their feet. On our 30-week course, after the first five weeks when students will have mastered the basic techniques, they are given more freedom to practice their skills with the tutor on hand to answer and support as required.
Embracing Mistakes
Taking a leap into independence means mistakes are bound to happen. But a good tutor uses them as powerful learning opportunities. It is important to understand that nothing will ever be perfect and that the uniqueness of the pieces made, comes from the imperfections. Plus, taking on this approach gives students the confidence they come to appreciate.
Celebrate Your Students!
Finally, it is important to celebrate the results of hard work! Every year, we host a graduate exhibition and fine furniture sale which offers visitors a unique opportunity to admire the stunning pieces crafted by our students on the 30-Week Professional Course. We never pass up the chance to celebrate, and this is one that you won’t want to miss as we reflect on the incredible hard work and craftsmanship our students have put into their projects throughout the course and of course, see their creations go to new homes.
The tutors at Chippendale School have an ability for turning raw talent into professional fine furniture makers. Their mix of passion, patience and the encouragement to embrace mistakes (splinters and all) is what we owe our students’ success to.
So, whether you’re here to carve out a new career or just to dabble, you’ll be in excellent hands!
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Are you interested in pursuing a career in woodworking? Take a look at our 30-week Professional Course to see how you too could become a fine Woodworking Tutor.
