Practical Woodwork - National 4

SCQF Framework

SCQF Level: 4

SCQF Credit Points: 24

Skills Framework

Delivering Centre

Vale of Leven Academy

Purpose and Aims

The Course is practical, exploratory and experiential in nature. It combines elements of technique and standard practice with elements of creativity.

The Course provides opportunities for learners to gain a range of practical woodworking skills and to use a variety of tools, equipment and materials. It allows them to plan activities through to the completion of a finished product in wood.

The Course also gives learners the opportunity to develop thinking, numeracy, and employability, enterprise and citizenship skills.

The aims of the Course are to enable learners to develop:

  • skills in woodworking techniques

  • skills in measuring and marking out timber sections and sheet materials

  • safe working practices in workshop environments

  • practical creativity and problem-solving skills

  • knowledge of sustainability issues in a practical woodworking context

Recommended Entry

Entry to this Course is at the discretion of the school. However, learners would normally be expected to have attained the skills and knowledge required by the following or equivalent qualifications and/or experience

  • National 3 Practical Craft Skills Course or relevant component Units

  • National 3 Design and Technology Course or relevant component Units

In terms of prior learning and experience, relevant experiences and outcomes may also provide an appropriate basis for doing this Course. Further information on relevant experiences and outcomes

Progression

  • N5 Practical Woodwork

  • other qualifications in practical technologies or related areas

  • further study, employment and/or training

Career Options

Further Information

Course Content

The Course comprises four mandatory Units including the Added Value Unit. Each of the Units of the Course is designed to provide progression to the corresponding Unit at National 5.

Practical Woodworking: Flat-frame Construction (National 4)

This Unit helps learners develop skills in the use of woodworking tools and in the preparation and production of basic flat-frame woodworking joints and assemblies. Learners will learn to read and follow simple woodworking drawings or diagrams.

Practical Woodworking: Carcase Construction (National 4)

This Unit helps learners develop skills in the preparation and production of basic woodworking joints and assemblies suitable for use in carcase construction. This may include working with manufactured board or with frames and panels. The Unit includes the use of simple working drawings or diagrams.

Practical Woodworking: Machining and Finishing (National 4)

This Unit helps learners develop skills in using common machine and power tools. It also helps learners develop skills in a variety of simple woodworking surface preparations and finishing techniques. In each of the three Units above, learners will develop an appreciation of safe working practices in a workshop environment. They will also gain knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues and good practice in recycling in a practical woodworking context. The structure of the Course allows learners to cover fundamental woodworking skills in a progressive fashion. Each Unit covers a set of new woodworking skills. All of the Units include skills in measuring, marking out, cutting and jointing techniques.

Added Value Unit: Making a Finished Product from Wood (National 4)

This Unit requires learners to draw on and extend their range of practical woodworking experiences and skills in order to produce an effective overall response to the task. The practical activity will be sufficiently open and flexible to allow for personalisation and choice.

Course Assessment Structure

The assessment of the Units in this Course will be as follows.

Practical Woodworking: Flat-frame Construction (National 4)

In this Unit, evidence will be required that the learner can produce basic flatframe joints and assemblies to a given standard. Evidence of knowledge will also be required.

Practical Woodworking: Carcase Construction (National 4)

In this Unit, evidence will be required that the learner can produce basic carcase constructions to a given standard. Evidence of knowledge will also be required.

Practical Woodworking: Machining and Finishing (National 4)

In this Unit, evidence will be required that the learner can carry out simple machining and finishing to a given standard. Evidence of knowledge will also be required.

Added Value Unit

Courses from National 4 to Advanced Higher include assessment of added value. At National 4, added value will be assessed in an Added Value Unit. The Added Value Unit will address the key purposes and aims of the Course, as defined in the Course rationale. It will do this by addressing one or more of breadth, challenge or application.