BRITAIN’S first National School of Furniture will be based in Oxford.

Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) and Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe aim to provide specialist furniture-making courses for both apprentices and experts.

Chris Hyde, who will head the National School of Furniture at OCVC, said: “We are delighted to have established such a strong, sustainable partnership that will really benefit Students and the UK’s furniture business.

“This is a key time for the furniture industry and it is vital that the education sector and employers invest in skills for growth.

“The school will be creating the next generation of highly skilled talent, helping to ensure economic growth for the furniture industry and nation as a whole.”

His counterpart in High Wycombe, Dr Lynn Jones, added: “Between the two educational centres we believe we can really help people get to where they want to be, whether they are students starting to study an aspect of the subject for the very first time, or established industry personnel in need of trainees, managers, skills or just advice.

“It’s all about connecting teaching to the industry.”

Much of the teaching will take place at OCVC’s Rycotewood Furniture Centre.

The internationally-renowned workshop has taught young furniture makers for 70 years – initially from its home at Rycotewood College, in Thame. The centre is now based at OCVC’s Oxpens Road campus in Oxford.

Buckinghamshire New University first started teaching disabled veterans the arts of cabinet-making, carving and polishing after the First World War to help them find work in High Wycombe’s furniture factories.

Students will be able to take short courses, bespoke industry courses, apprenticeships, diplomas, and degrees in subjects including furniture-making, design, manufacture, conservation and retail.

Current OCVC student James Long, 21, from Schofield Road, Witney, is studying a foundation degree at the centre. He said: “Making furniture is what I have always wanted to do.

“I always appreciated beautiful furniture and wanted to make things.

“You can take what you want from the course in terms of what you design and make. I wanted to do stuff based on craft using more traditional methods; other people work on stuff that could be mass produced.

“Both Rycotewood and New Bucks University have been major players for years, so it is good for them to join up.

“Through the National School of Furniture someone could start taking a day or two out of school each week from the age of 14, and follow it right up to PhD level.”

The School’s launch at The Furniture Makers’ Hall in London yesterday was attended by leading figures in the furniture industry, including managing director of Ercol Furniture, Edward Tadros.