Express your creativity with quality tools
Whatever trade you're looking to grow your skills in, we have the latest equipment to get you there. There are hundreds of tools from trusted brands and stockrooms packed with materials, so you're never short of options when working on projects.
A modern and innovative construction hub
The Construction Skills Centre is one of the newer buildings at the Witney campus. Over two floors, students can practice key skills in plumbing, electrical work, carpentry and joinery in state-of-the-art surroundings.
Gain the practical qualities you need to become a skilled trades professional.
Work within a top class facility with specialist tutors where at every turn, you will find new tools to master and new challenges to overcome, helping to build a wealth of experience.
Take pride in watching your creative ideas take shape and turn into defined projects. This could be fitting a bathroom from scratch, drawing and scaling plans for a cabinet or wiring complex circuitry to power a range of different lighting scenarios.
Our Construction courses are on-your-feet, hands-on learning where there is freedom to get stuck into your work and support from tutors when you need it.
There are also work experience opportunities and visits outside of college, including the National Self Build & Renovation Centre, so you can tap into trending developments in the industry.
Staff Profile: Ruth Weller
Before starting life at Abingdon & Witney College, Ruth went to Burford Secondary School where she achieved all her GCSEs with a grade C and above.
She then joined the College's Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery course; her teachers were clearly impressed, as she was offered the opportunity to do a part-time technician role alongside her Level 2 and once that was achieved, was offered the job full-time.
"The best part about my job and teaching at the College is getting to work with so many different students and watching them grow and develop in so many ways.
I believe that two of the most important benefits students get are the opportunity to enhance their skill levels within the chosen course, and the fact that this then helps them to develop a further level of confidence in themselves.
College also helps prepare students for their life after they finish here, offering careers advice and guidance and the opportunity to get experience in a workplace. This is really important, as it shows them what life will be like outside of education."
Staff Profile: Rob Cotter
Whilst working part time to earn as he studied, Rob trained at Abingdon & Witney College on the Plumbing Level 1 and 2 course.
During his study, he got an insight into what working for the college could be like and he began to consider how he could start supporting other students on his course and in the years below him.
This sparked an interest in a career in teaching for Rob as he began thinking about his career path. Rob now teaches full time in his position with Abingdon & Witney College.
"We have a great team of staff who are all dedicated to helping young adults progress through college and leave industry ready. We work closely together, always sharing good practice.
Students get a great experience with the college; not only in the course they have chosen to study but also from the enrichment programmes, and amazing support of our careers advisors and dedicated support team."
Did you know?
Jacob
Previous school:
Chipping Norton School
The course I'm studying feels like what a career would be like, challenging me and providing space for me to work in.
I remember turning up on the first day and I thought wow! The size of the construction building, the equipment we get to use – it's all helping me to reach my goal, which is to have my own workshop, making bespoke designs for customers.
Sionainne
Previous school:
Wood Green School
I find that it never gets boring in the Skills Centre, learning joinery techniques and perfecting new skills - that's what I like most about the course, being in the amazing facilities.
The atmosphere is very relaxed here. You get freedom in the lessons and the fact that you're treated like an adult brings out the best in me. And because we are studying a specific subject that we’ve chosen, we aren’t doing anything that we don’t want to do!
I have a interest in woodwork and when I have completed the course, I would like to join the British Army Royal Engineers as a carpenter.
John
Previous school:
Burford School
What I like most about college life is the space we’re given to do our own thing. I can create my own designs, turning my ideas into reality, without being boxed into doing the same as everyone else.
I’m going down the carpentry route as I wanted to learn practical skill and turn that into a career. The College is close to me and in the construction centre I can use high-quality tools and learn everything I need to set me up for a job after college, so this was definitely the best choice for me.
Rusher
Previous school:
Henry Box School
I had already heard about the great reputation of the College and the plumbing course. It’s a big campus and you can tell the Skills Centre we're learning in is new with modern tools and equipment.
The courses are very different to those at school. It’s much more hands-on and there's a lot more freedom. The tutors are easy to talk to and know their stuff.
This course is putting me on the right path to want I eventually want to do, which is to get an apprenticeship in plumbing.
Your future career
Bench/Architectural Joiner
Carpenter
Electrician
Furniture Maker
Heating Engineer
Plumber
Site Manager
