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Level 2
Level 2 Technical Diploma in Blacksmithing. (Blacksmithing Route)
COURSE OVERVIEW
The level 2 course is designed to give you the fundamentals you need to become employable and prepare you for the level 3 course, (which in turn will prepare you to become self-employable). You will learn the fundamentals of forgework, (including metallurgy), welding, thermal cutting processes, freehand drawing, and technical drawing.
The course entails you making a set of tools, which you then use to create a multi-component piece, (for example a hanging basket bracket). You will learn welding and thermal cutting techniques, which can be used either within Blacksmithing or fabrication-welding, if you were to decide to follow that career path instead. Finally, you will be taught the fundamentals of both freehand and technical drawing techniques, which again are applicable to the design aspect of Blacksmithing or could be taken and developed to follow a career path as an illustrator.
All these skills will also be applied in a final project, in which you will write a brief, conduct research, design and finally make your own multi-component piece.
Please be aware that there is written work which will need to be completed, within set time frames and to a set standard. If you need additional help with reading or writing, please let us know at your interview and we can arrange for help prior to the start of the course.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You will need a minimum of two GCSEs at grade 4, (or ‘C’;), or above to be accepted onto the course.
Ideally, you will also have a keen interest in metalworking and design.
As mentioned in the ‘About the Course’; section, this course is designed to make you employable as an apprentice Blacksmith. However, to develop your skills further, you can also progress onto the level 3 Blacksmithing course, which is designed to make you self-employable.
If you decide that Blacksmithing is not for you, with the skills developed within the course, you might also decide to follow a career as an illustrator, fabricator-welder or product designer. However, we are confident that you will enjoy the course and wish to pursue a career in Blacksmithing.
Based on the timing of the course, 75% of the course is coursework based and assessed. The remaining 25% is assessed by a synoptic project, which will be undertaken throughout the year. This synoptic assessment only accounts for one of the seven units, however.
There is written work which accompanies almost every aspect of the course, so please do expect to do writing.
Compulsory fees are £500.00. This will include; Toolbox, hammer, tongs, apron, rule, department polo shirt, block brush, centre punch and callipers, which students will keep this on leaving in addition to resources, materials and PPE.
Learners under 19 years old can receive government funding for the course fees, however, learners over 19 will have to pay the full course fees themselves.
Please phone to enquire for course costs, additional information is also available on the Chichester College website under the Financial Support section. (Financial Support | Chichester College).
Whilst studying the course, you will need to provide and wear a pair of steel toe capped safety boots, a sturdy pair of jeans, (which are not ripped or torn and that consistently cover the tops of your boots), and finally a cotton t-shirt or polo shirt, (this must have sleeves, (no vests), and must be made of cotton, NOT any synthetic material).