Free Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery Course in Norwich. Classes run at City College Norwich, full-time during the day. You'll spend around sixty percent of your time in the trade workshop and the rest in classrooms covering theory and key skills. The course runs for one year and covers six units: three core construction units and three trade-specific units. Entry requires GCSE English Language and maths at grade 3 or above. A strong foundation for anyone starting out in the trade.
Who this course is for
The course is approximately a sixty/forty mix of practical and theoretical content, with the majority of the time being spent in the trade specific workshop area and the rest in key skills study rooms and classrooms. There are six units - three that are common to all branches of the construction industry and three that are trade specific. Core units: Safe working practices in construction, information, quantities and communications with others, building methods and construction technology. Trade specific units: Produce basic woodworking joints, maintain and use carpentry and joinery hand tools, prepare and use carpentry and joinery portable power tools. The following transferable skills will also be acquired during the course: Communications, application of number, improving own learning, problem solving, working with others. Good English and Maths skills are essential for most jobs and courses you will progress onto.
Entry requirements
Achieve GCSE English Language and maths at grade 3 or above.
What you will learn
You'll practise safe working practices used across the construction industry.
You'll learn how to read and interpret construction information and quantities.
You'll develop skills in communicating with others on site.
You'll study building methods and construction technology.
You'll build trade-specific carpentry and joinery skills in a dedicated workshop.
You'll work with timber and joinery materials in practical, hands-on sessions.
How you will learn
Most of your time is spent in the trade-specific workshop, working on practical carpentry and joinery tasks. The rest takes place in classrooms and key skills study rooms covering theory. The course is assessed across six units: three core to the construction industry and three trade-specific. Assessment combines practical work and theoretical study throughout the year.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. City College Norwich will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Carpenter: how to become a carpenter starts here at Level 1.
Joiner: workshop-based role making doors, frames, and fitted units.
Construction labourer: entry-level site work while building further skills.
Shopfitter: fitting out retail and commercial interiors.
Bench joiner: precision timber work in a workshop setting.
What you could study next
Level 2 Diploma in Site Carpentry (City and Guilds): the next step toward skilled site work and a CSCS skilled-worker card.
Level 2 Diploma in Bench Joinery (City and Guilds): focuses on workshop-based joinery production.
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Site Carpentry: the qualification carpenters typically need to progress to fully skilled status on site.
Construction Apprenticeship: combine paid work with structured training in carpentry or joinery.
