The National 4/5 Practical Woodworking course provides opportunities for candidates to gain a range of theoretical and practical woodworking skills relating to tools, equipment, processes and materials. They also develop skills in reading and interpreting working drawings and related documents as well as an understanding of health and safety. The course is practical, exploratory and experiential in nature. It engages candidates with technologies, allowing them to consider the impact that practical technologies have on our environment and society. Through this, they develop skills, knowledge and understanding of:
- woodworking techniques
- measuring and marking out timber sections and sheet materials
- safe working practices in workshop environments
- practical creativity and problem-solving skills
- sustainability issues in a practical woodworking context
Who is this course for?
This course is a broad-based qualification, suitable for learners with an interest in practical technologies. It is largely learner-centred, includes practical and experiential learning opportunities and is suitable for those wanting to progress onto further levels of study or a related career.
Course content overview
This course develops skills in three main areas. Each area provides opportunities for candidates to understand safe working practices, sustainability issues, and good practice in recycling within a workshop environment. Each area of study covers a different set of woodworking skills. All areas include skills and associated knowledge in measuring, marking out, cutting and jointing techniques.
The areas of study are:
Flat-frame construction
Candidates develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the use of woodworking tools and in making woodworking joints and assemblies commonly used in flat-frame joinery, involving complex features. Candidates develop their ability to read and use drawings and diagrams depicting both familiar and unfamiliar woodwork tasks.
Carcase construction
Candidates develop skills, knowledge and understanding in the use of woodworking tools and in making woodworking joints and assemblies commonly used in carcase construction, involving complex features. This may include working with manufactured board or with frames and panels. Candidates use working drawings or diagrams in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts that require some interpretation on their part.
Machining and finishing
Candidates develop skills, knowledge and understanding in using machine and power tools. Candidates also develop skills in a variety of woodworking surface preparations and finishing techniques.
Course Assessment (National 5)
Component 1: Question Paper - The question paper has 60 marks out of a total of 130 marks. This is scaled by SQA to represent 30% of the overall marks for the course assessment. A proportion of marks are available for more challenging questions, which generally require interpretation and/or integration of more complex practical woodworking situations. This could be in the complexity of the expected response, the descriptions and/or justifications of more detailed and/or complex processes, or problem-solving.
Component 2: Practical Activity - The practical activity has 70 marks out of a total of 130 marks. This is scaled by SQA to represent 70% of the overall marks for the course assessment.The practical activity gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:
- selecting and using a range of woodworking tools, equipment, materials and finishes
- reading, interpreting and following given working drawings, outline specification information and cutting lists
- marking out, cutting and shaping component parts
- manufacturing a finished product to given drawings and standards
- working and using tools and equipment in accordance with recognised procedures and safe working practices
SQA Useful Links
Study Links
General Information site - http://www.technologystudent.com/
OneNote - https://tinyurl.com/ydz4y3ua