Workshop from outside
Workshop in the timberyard at Scotney Castle
Dimension sawing
Dimension sawing
Cabinet
Cabinet in English walnut, maple with ebony detailing
Side table
Side table in macassor ebony
Dining table
Student Chris Nash's dining table in American maple and walnut

Full-time programme (38 weeks)

The full-time programme, which normally starts each September, January and April, takes students from basic tool understanding to designing and making their own furniture. Each practical project is increasingly demanding, thereby developing their skill, understanding and confidence enabling them to tackle ever more complicated pieces.

Approximately 90 per cent of the time on the course is spent making furniture by hand in the Cabinet Making workshop.

It is assumed that students have little or no knowledge of furniture making so we start from the beginning with basic hand tool techniques and exercises.

Practical workshop projects

These are the mainstay of the course.

Each project has been designed to introduce the student to different and ever more complex skills and techniques. All projects are assessed; students are encouraged to critique their own work.

The design and making of your own furniture is encouraged and the final student piece of work has been allocated minimum time of 10 weeks. During the year the following ten projects are made:

  1. Tool Skill Exercises
  2. Games Board
  3. Shaker Table
  4. Coopered Cabinet
  5. Machine Skill Exercises
  6. Cabinet Making Bench
  7. Wood Turning Project
  8. Machine Dining Chair
  9. Fine Crafted Chair
  10. Student Practical Project

Theory of Furniture Making

Each week, two sessions are taught in the classroom. These lessons are valuable in that they allow the opportunity to study in more depth aspects of furniture making that are not covered by practical activities in the workshop. Students and tutors alike welcome the opportunity to share experiences of furniture making.

Classroom Topics

Cabinet Making

  • Furniture Making Techniques
  • Timber Technology
  • Design
  • Sustainability
  • Technical Drawing
  • Fixtures and Fittings
  • Wood Finishing
  • Professional Practice

Machine Woodworking

  • Sawing Machines
  • Planing Machines
  • Jointing Machines
  • Profile Machines
  • Sanding Machines
  • Powered Hand Tools

Term dates

Autumn Term: September - December (13 weeks)
Spring Term: January - April (13 weeks)
Summer Term: April - July (12 weeks)

Students will normally begin the programme in September, January or April, however other start dates are available.

Tuition fee

Full-time course: £14,000.

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