National 5 Practical Metalwork

This course will give you a broad introduction to practical metalworking skills. You will learn the correct use of tools and equipment, and a range of materials, processes and techniques. And, you will be able to read and interpret diagrams, and work safely in a workshop-based setting. You will get to use some creative skills, and plan your activities through to completing a finished product in metal.

The skills you learn in this course will help you move into career areas such as craft, design, engineering and graphics.

This course will help you develop and enhance your practical, creative and problem solving skills. You will learn about the correct use of a range of tools, equipment and a range of metalworking materials and learn how to work effectively alongside others in a workshop environment.    

This course allows the development of practical skills, gaining skills and knowledge of materials and manufacturing within the practical workshop environment.  Students will manufacture several small projects to a tolerance of +/- 1mm gaining knowledge in bench and machining skills, hot metal forming and a variety of joining and finishing techniques.

Students will be required to keep an accurate log book of their practical work and theory work will be issued as independent learning tasks once per week.

Practical work (70%) - Course assessment consists of a practical activity, where you make a finished product from metal working from given drawings.  The assessment is set annually by SQA, and work will be assessed by a visiting SQA assessor.  A log book must be completed alongside the practical and garners marks for the standard of its completion . 

Question paper (30%) - A one hour long question paper which tests students’ knowledge of tools, machinery and processes in the metal workshop environment. 

It is important to note that students are required to adhere to Health and Safety practices in the practical workshop.  Failure to follow safety rules will result in the student being removed and parents / carers contacted.  Recurring unsafe behaviour will result in students failing the mandatory Safety outcome and will be unable to be given the full award.