Craft Practices - Clocks

Official Course Title: Foundation Degree Arts – Clocks

Study at a specialist college with the assurance of a university qualification. Develop your passions and reach your potential in a small, welcoming environment within a community of like-minded people.

Why choose West Dean?
An international reputation for excellence in conservation and arts education.
94% of students studying at the College* felt the programme had enhanced their skills and abilities (*2019 student survey)
A rich arts environment and a focus on craft skills with vocational application.
Be inspired by the unique historic character and beautiful South Downs setting.
Located close to Chichester and the South Coast, with easy access to London.

The Course

Equip yourself for a career in clock making and working with dynamic objects by acquiring the practical and technical skills, the theory, principles and techniques used in historic horological manufacture. The programme begins with practical exercises to help you establish hand and machine tool skills relating to historic craft practices in clock-making.

You will make your own clock before working on a range of historic clocks; this bench-based activity is integrated with theory and professional practice. Learn how to combine and use this knowledge when making treatment decisions as a professional practitioner.

You can expect

To develop excellent practical skills through object-based treatments
To learn the principles and techniques of historical horological manufacture and repair
To work on historic objects

Learning environment

Low student : tutor ratio
Workshop access 8.30am-9pm, seven days a week
Stimulating interdisciplinary environment
Visits from specialists from the heritage and private sectors
Visits to museums and active links with heritage bodies

Exceptional facilities

You will work in our specialist clocks workshop with access to a well-equipped analytical laboratory. Collaboration with other craft practices specialisms makes for a uniquely enriched learning environment. Facilities include:

Individual work benches for each student
Access to the full range of metalworking and woodworking facilities in the adjacent departments
Digital photography facilities for the production of photographic records and documentation
Area for cleaning and testing completed work
The on-site Art and Conservation Library puts thousands of specialist books and journals within your reach and you can access specialist databases in the IT suite.

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, external trips and visits, and workshop practicals. In addition, you will have personal tutorials with your subject tutor.

At level 4 you typically have around 18-19 contact hours per week. At level 5 (year 2) you typically have around 16-17 contact hours per week.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshop or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Overall workload

Level 4: 53% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 633 hours
Independent learning: 567 hours

Level 5: 50% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 600 hours
Independent learning: 600 hours

HC-M1 Materials Technology: delivered in pathway workshop and cross-curricular,
HC-D1 Drawing and Aesthetics,
HC-R1 Study/Research Skills,
HC-M2 Materials Technology (Metal/Wood): delivered in pathway workshop and cross-curricular,
HC-H2 History of Craft,
HC-C2M1/C/F/ME Craft Skills,
HC-P3 Professional Skills incl. work placement,
HC-R1 Study/Research Skills,
HC-C1M1/C/ME Craft Skills,
HC-P4 Professional Portfolio: student led.

Modules may be subject to change.