Full-Time Furniture Making Course

The one year (38 week) programme will transform into a Fine Furniture Designer Maker, regardless of the skill level you start with.

Ours is one of the few courses that leads to three Diplomas awarded by the City & Guilds. Each practical project is increasingly demanding, developing your skill, understanding and confidence.

Overview

The full-time programme starts each September, January and April for small groups of up to 8 students. Learn to understand hand tools, wood, as well as traditional techniques for designing and making fine furniture.

Throughout the year, you will make several pieces, with each project becoming increasingly demanding. You will develop skill, understanding and confidence. We assume you’ll have little or no knowledge of fine furniture making so we start with basic hand tool techniques and exercises.

If you’re thinking of joining us please book a visit or apply online.

Practical Workshop Projects

Each project has been designed to introduce you 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 projects are made:

  • Tool Skill Exercises

  • Games Board

  • Dovetail Box

  • Shaker Table

  • Shop Stool

  • Machine Dining Chair

  • Cabinet Making Bench

  • Krenov Cabinet

  • Student’s Own Furniture Project

Student Projects

Oak Dining Table with Laminated Semi Circle Legs
Media Unit Furniture Craft School Woodworking Courses
Backgammon Board Fine Furniture School Kent England

Theory of Furniture Making

Each week a session is 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

  • Hand Tools

  • Timber Technology

  • Furniture Making Techniques

  • Design & Sustainability

  • Health & Safety

  • Wood Finishing

  • Professional Practice

Machine Woodworking

  • Sawing Machines

  • Planing Machines

  • Jointing Machines

  • Profile Machines

  • Sanding Machines

  • Powered Hand Tools

Certifications

The full-time course leads to three professionally recognised Diplomas – two Level 2 Diplomas in Furniture Making and Machine Woodworking and a Level 3 Diploma in Furniture Making and Design. All three awards are validated by the City & Guilds of London.

Meet Your Tutors

  • Peter Quin

    Founder & Principal
    Master Furnituremaker, The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers

  • Andrew Lapthorn

    Designer-Maker, Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen & Owner of Lapthorn Furniture

  • Mark Thomas

    Bespoke Guild Mark holder and Multiple Award Nominated Designer-Maker. Owner of MakerMark

  • Paul Iaquaniello

    Designer-Maker & Owner of Kent Furniture Design

Educational visits

We arrange educational visits throughout the year. We add to this number if a relevant event or exhibition occurs.

These visits aim to broaden understanding. They bring to live subjects taught in the classroom, thus creating a wider context for the furniture maker and designer.

The following visits have been provisionally arranged for the coming year – click the ‘+’ to expand each section and see the planned visits.

  • Hamish Low

    Furniture Maker and Bog Oak Timber Merchant

    Wood Fair

    Local fair that promote the use of wood and allied trades.

    Rochester

    Black oak table

    Andrew Lapthorne

    Hutchfield Furniture

    Seaton historical Tool Chest

    Hampshire

    Barnsley Workshop

    English Woodland Hardwood

  • London Museums

    V&A

    Design Museum

    Lord Leighton House

    Others

    William Morris House

    Exhibitions TBC

  • Suppliers

    Timberline

    Axminster Tools

    Crispin Veneers

    W24

    International Machine Woodworking and Wood Trade Fair

    NEC Birmingham

    Workshop Renting Spaces

    Hones Workshop

    Clunie Fretton Workshop

Term Dates

Autumn Term: September - December (13 weeks)

Spring Term: January - April (13 weeks)

Summer Term: April - July (12 weeks)

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

We teach in small groups. A maximum of 8 students per cohort.

Tuition fee

Full-time course tuition fees £14,000.

There will be additional costs of around £2,200:

  • City & Guilds exam fees and certificates £469

  • Tools to be purchased by the student at their own expense, ~£800

  • Materials for practical projects £1200

  • Consumables box £150

All materials for Tool and Machine exercises are provided by the school. Students are welcome to purchase their own wood for school projects; otherwise it will be provided by the school.

Funding & Bursary

Students are normally self-funded. There are a number of charities who offer educational and training awards.

The School offers a bursary of up to £3,000 for students who coud not otherwise afford the course fees.

The bursary is awarded by the Principal and at his discretion.

Get in touch.

We’d love to hear from you, where you are in your life at the moment and what is drawing you to furniture-making.

Arrange to come for a visit and we will show you our workshops, students’ projects and you’ll get to meet some tutors. Chat to students, ask them your questions and get to hear their experiences.