Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery 2025-26

Interested in starting a career in carpentry or joinery? This introductory course, taught at our Peterlee campus, is the perfect start to your future job!

You'll start learning your new trade from highly experienced craftsmen, studying in our huge carpentry and joinery workshop. This environment is home to absolutely everything you'll need - from simple workbenches to advanced circular saws, with all of the tools, wood and equipment you'll need to thrive during your course.

The main focus of our Level 1 carpentry and joinery course is to develop your practical hand skills, as well as develop your knowledge of relevant industrial processes and techniques.

You'll take part in regular practical sessions, supported by the theory behind carpentry and joinery, developing your technical drawing and I.L.T skills.

Also incorporated into the study programme will be functional skills (maths & English), tutorial, work experience, academic tutorial and relevant trips & guest visits.

The qualification consists of the following units:

• Skills for carpentry and joinery
• Further skills for carpentry and joinery
• Erect and dismantle access equipment or working platforms
• Prepare and use carpentry and joinery portable power tools
• Personal skills in the construction industry
• Personal well being in construction
• The construction industry (multiple choice exam)
• Construction health and safety (multiple choice exam)

• Building Inspector
• Construction Manager
• Door Fitter
• Education and Training
• Health and Safety Inspector
• Kitchen Fitter
• Project Manager
• Set Builder for TV / Theatre

... and so much more!

Successful completion of the Level 1 programme will allow progression onto the Level 2 programme the following academic year.

Minimum of GCSE grade 2 for Math and English. Learners coming on to this programme will be expected to carry out a skills test. Your attendance, behaviour and motivation will be monitored over the first 6 weeks to ensure you are suitable for this programme. Failure to meet these expectations could jeopardise your place on the course.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

The programme is assessed via online exams and practical test pieces for each unit.

September 2025

1 year, full time.

This full time study programme courses may also be available to study on a part-time basis if you are aged 18 or over on 31st August. Please check with Student Services for more details.