Advanced Carpentry and Joinery (Level 3)

Who is this Apprenticeship for?

This course is for anyone wishing to become an Advanced Site Carpenter working on building sites in the construction of domestic and commercial properties, preparing and installing complex and bespoke building components. They prepare, construct and erect irregular and complex roof structures.

The broad purpose of the occupation is working with building materials (most often wood) to create and install building components. This typically involves shaping and cutting materials, installing finished materials like partitions, doors, staircases, window frames, mouldings, timber floor coverings and erecting structural components such as floor joists and roofs. All work needs to be carried out safely, using the appropriate tools and to the quality specified.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation liaises with other construction trades such as bricklayers, plasterers and plumbers, supervisors, site management, architects, designers, contractors and customers. An Advanced Site Carpenter would generally liaise with other trades such as bricklayers, plasterers and plumbers, site management and contractors.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working in a team, sometimes supervising others, using machinery and tools to create or refurbish/repair structures or components from the designs, plans and specifications of architects and designers that meet the client’s expectations.

Are there any entry requirements?

Must be a UK citizen, or have the right of abode in the UK, or is a citizen of a country that is within the EEA and have been ordinarily resident in the UK, the EU or the EEA continuously for the previous three years before the start of learning.

Candidates will have achieved a minimum of GCSE Grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent in English and Maths. We also offer Functional Skills English and maths at Level 2 for those needing to gain these qualifications prior to enrolment.

Apprentices must be employed, for a minimum of 30 hours, in a role that suits the skills requirements of this apprenticeship.

New applicants will be contacted by a vocational delivery tutor to determine suitability/eligibility prior, give information and advice on the next steps.

Shortlisted applicants will be sent to the employer, to then follow their recruitment procedure. Unsuitable applicants will be sign-posted to other areas of our service to develop transferable/employability skills, with a view to ensuring they are suitable for other apprenticeship positions in the future.

What is the curriculum intent of this Apprenticeship?

The structure and delivery of the course curriculum will enable you to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to reflect the needs of local and regional employers, gain qualifications and be successful in this area.

The curriculum is planned and sequenced to enable learners with previous knowledge and experience to develop the new skills needed to progress to the next stage of their career, training, education or employment.

The curriculum is flexible and responsive to learner demands and can be tailored to suit individual needs arising from any current and dynamic issues affecting their role, which can be addressed during workshop sessions.

As an apprentice you will need to be able to demonstrate knowledge and practical skills at the end of your apprenticeship training programme and understand how this reflects the needs of the local, regional and national economy.

What will the Apprenticeship cover?

The advanced carpentry and joinery (Site Carpenter pathway) apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and understanding of:

The principles of environment, health, safety and welfare and how they must be applied in relation to their work and to others
The responsibilities under current legislation and official guidance to undertake the work
How to use health and safety control equipment including personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE), local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
The different workplace signs and safety notices and their meaning and how to undertake hazard identification in the workplace
The principles of building construction including foundations, roofs, walls, floors, utilities and services, BIM and environmental and sustainability considerations
How to interpret and produce relevant information from drawings and specifications
How to estimate resource quantities to carry out work eg quantity of fixings, length of timber
How to communicate and work with others effectively in the workplace
The characteristics, quality, uses, sustainability, limitations and defects associated with timber and timber-based products and components
Hand Tools : how to prepare, use, maintain and store hand tools
Power Tools: how to prepare, use, maintain and store power tools including the procedure for undertaking visual first use check
How to plan work activities for self and others in order to meet schedules and deadlines
The different types of fixings and fasteners for site carpentry work including their uses
How to form advanced woodworking joints including the resources required and how to mark out and form advanced woodworking joints
How to form products using advanced woodworking joints including splayed and level (horizontal and vertical) joints
How to carry out complex first fixing work including how to install complex and non-standard timber frames, linings, floor coverings, flat roof decking, flights of stairs with turns and handrails and how to erect timber stud partitions
How to carry out complex second fixing work including how to install service encasements, cladding, bespoke wall and floor units and fitments, side hung doors, ironmongery, timber mouldings, handrails and spindles to stairs with turns
How to carry out complex structural carcassing work including how to erect trussed rafter, how to fix verge and eave components
How to install and maintain structural and non-structural carpentry components including how to install and maintain doors, windows and structural timbers, how to replace glazing, how to reinstate surfaces

Develop the skills in:

Apply safe working practices in accordance with current legislation, health, safety and welfare regulations
Apply safe use, storage and maintenance of hand tools, power tools and equipment
Interpret relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions
Estimate resource quantities to carry out work taking site measurements where appropriate
Plan and undertake work practices productively
Carry out a range of carpentry and joinery skills including measuring, marking out, fitting, cutting, splicing, mitring, scribing, horizontal and vertical levelling (including laser levelling), finishing, positioning and securing
Mark out and form advanced woodworking joints including splayed and plumb joints
Carry out first fixing work including install complex and non-standard timber frames, linings, coverings, flat roof decking, non-structural stud partitions and flights of stairs with turns
Carry out second fixing work including service encasements, cladding, bespoke wall and floor units, tops, cornices and fitments, complex spindles and handrails to stairs with turns, side hung doors, ironmongery, timber mouldings, fire doors and door sets
Carry out complex structural timber stud partition work
Erect complex trussed rafter roofs and bracings, verge and eave components, dormer windows to roofs
Erect complex traditional roofs with trusses, purling, ridges, hips and valleys
Install floor joists including cut to fit, solid timber and coverings including planed, tongued and grooved (PTG) boards
Maintain structural and non-structural carpentry work including doors, windows and structural timbers, replace glazing, reinstate surfaces, timber doors, window frames, mouldings, guttering and fixings and replace sash window cords

Develop and demonstrate the following behaviours:

Effective communication: oral, written, listening – especially in working with others
Teamwork: work effectively without supervision and give leadership to others – being willing to lead a team
Independent working: take responsibility for completing own work and monitoring the work of others
Logical thinking: use clear and valid reasoning when making decisions and in achieving work targets of self and others
Working effectively: undertake the work in a reliable and productive manner, lead others by example.
Time management: use own time effectively to complete work on schedule and support effective team working
Adaptability: be able to implement change and adjust existing requirements to meet the work instructions

On completion of the on-programme element of the apprenticeship you will enter gateway to the End Point Assessment, which is the final assessment. This will be conducted by an independent end point assessor who will grade the assessment.

End Point Assessment

To trigger the End Point Assessment, you must have:

English & maths GCSE minimum grade 4+ (C+) or equivalent level 2 qualification proof
Completed a showcase portfolio, demonstrating how you have met the knowledge, skills and behaviours

The End Point Assessment consists of:

Online Knowledge Test: A 60-minute test, consisting of 40 multiple choice questions
Practical Assessment: Consisting of 4 tasks over a 7 ½ -hour period
Professional Discussion: A structured discussion with the Independent Assessor, to draw out the best of the apprentice’s competence and excellence and cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours

This standard will be graded as Distinction, Pass or Fail.

What could I do when I have finished this Apprenticeship?

This apprenticeship provides an ideal entry into the occupation and supports progression within the sector as site joiner or team leader, trade foreperson, contract or work managers with the construction sector. You may gain employment with your employer and / or decide to complete an Team Leader/ Supervisor (Level 3), Degree or FE/HE courses in construction / engineering. You will also be given information and guidance to continue onto other courses.

Where and when will I learn?

During the course you will be expected to attend our Training Centre (Lingfield Way, Darlington, DL1 4QZ) 1 day a week developing your knowledge and practical skills in a controlled environment. These sessions will allow you to complete coursework, receive instant feedback and ensure you are ready for the End Point Assessment. The remainder of the week will be spent working with your employer putting the theory into practice to further develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in a real working environment.

This course will typically take 18 months, but this is based on a vocational initial assessment to determine prior learning in this area and may be reduced.

How much will the Apprenticeship cost?

There are no fees for this apprenticeship.

What do I do next?

You can:

View our latest vacancies

Or you can:

Apply for this apprenticeship area to be entered into a 'pool of candidates'. When a relevant vacancy becomes available we will contact you.
If you are already employed in this area and wish to join the apprenticeship training, or have identified an employer wishing to start you as an apprentice in this area, please contact us