Our Intermediate Course

Our one-month intermediate course is aimed at anyone wanting to take their woodworking skills to a whole new level.

It’s not intended as a pathway into professional woodworking, but will give you the skills and confidence to flourish in your woodworking hobby. No previous woodworking experience is required for this course.

Course Details

You will be taught by Alan McGovern, a skilled cabinet maker with over 35 years of experience, and Fiona Gilfillan, a past graduate of the School’s Professional Course. With only two students per tutor at any one time, tuition is intensive.

You will be taught skills as required by your design, including how to:

  • Lay out your design and make a cutting list from it
  • Use workshop machinery such as a table saw, planer, bandsaw, mitre saw and router to machine your materials
  • Make wood joints by hand and using machines
  • Sharpen hand tools where used
  • Make mouldings using a table touter
  • Make tapered legs
  • Build your piece allowing for wood movement
  • Time permitting, you may make other small pieces such as a small box or a veneered panel using other bench skills learned on the course

Your course project will be to design and build a hardwood table with a size restriction of 1500mm long x 500mm deep x 800mm high. In addition to a bank of new skills, you’ll take your unique table design home with you!

Dates

The upcoming course dates for 2023 are:

  • 24 Apr – 19 May 2023 – Fully booked
  • 29 May – 23 Jun 2023 – Fully booked
  • 3 – 28 Jul 2023 – Fully booked
  • 7 Aug – 1 Sep 2023 – Fully booked
  • 16 Oct – 10 Nov 2023
  • 20 Nov – 15 Dec 2023

If you would like to join us, please fill in the application form, stating your preferred start date.

Fees

The fee for the intermediate course is £3,500, with a £500 non-refundable deposit payable to secure your place, with the balance payable one month before the start of the course. The cost of timber is included in this fee.

Find out more about our other courses

Chippendale International School of Furniture
May 2021  Photo Phil Wilkinson

Professional Course

Our professional course is aimed at those who want to make fine furniture design and make it their career, or to learn a professional skill in retirement.

Chippendale International School of Furniture
May 2021  Photo Phil Wilkinson

Introductory Course

For anyone looking for an introduction to woodworking, we run one-week Introductory courses several times a year. These short courses are run over a five-day period, Monday to Friday and provide an introduction to a whole range of woodworking skills and techniques.

Chippendale International School of Furniture
May 2021  Photo Phil Wilkinson

Short Courses

In addition to our professional, intermediate and introductory courses, we offer a selection of short courses for those with a keen interest in furniture making and restoration.

Get In Touch

If you are looking to embark on a career change or you have an interest in the art of woodworking and furniture design, get in touch and arrange in a visit.