Breadcrumb navigation:
- SQA Home
- > Qualifications > NQ > Skills for Work > Courses and Unit Specifications > Construction Crafts (Int. 1 & 2) > Construction Crafts Intermediate 1
Subjects & Qualifications
Construction Crafts Intermediate 1 (SCQF level 4)
Structure of the Course
- Mandatory Units
- Optional Units
- Summary of Course content
- Summary of content by each Unit
- Assessment Approaches
- Learning and teaching materials
- Experience of the Workplace
- Resource requirements
- Progression
- Internal Assessment Reports
- Conditions and Arrangements
- Transition guidance for pilot centres
- Arrangements documents
This Course is at Intermediate 1 level and consists of eight 20 hour Units. Five of the Units are mandatory and the remaining three are chosen from seven optional 20 hour Units:
Mandatory Units:
| Mandatory Units | Unit credit |
|---|---|
|
Employability Skills (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Half Brick Walling (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Decorative Painting (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Site Carpentry and Bench Joinery (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Plumbing (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
Optional Units:
Candidates also study three optional Units from a choice of seven:
| Optional Units | Unit credit |
|---|---|
|
Practical Copper Pipework (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Brickwork Techniques (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Carpentry and Joinery Techniques (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Decorative Finishing Using Water-borne Paints (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Electrical Installation (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Plasterwork (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
|
Roof Tiling (Intermediate 1) |
0.5 Unit credit |
Summary of Course content
The Course contains practical construction crafts Units in seven important construction trades. It is especially suitable for candidates with an aptitude for and an interest in practical crafts work. Candidates will learn a variety of skills in the trades-specific Units. In addition, they will develop skills and attitudes that enhance employability, not just in the construction industry, but in employment generally.
In the mandatory section, the Employability Skills Unit addresses a number of practical and employability skills which can be practised and developed across all the Units in the Course. The four other Units in the mandatory section cover specific construction crafts. These crafts-specific Units are in trades with high levels of identified skill shortages. Furthermore, they represent skills areas which are readily resourced in centres offering construction Courses.
The optional section offers the opportunity to learn skills in three of seven trades. They represent skills areas which are readily resourced in most centres offering construction Courses. In the optional section, candidates can take Units in the same trades as the mandatory section, further developing their skills in these specific trades.
Alternatively, they can take Units in different trades, granting them the opportunity to experience a wider variety of construction crafts.
Summary of content of each Unit:
- Construction Crafts: Employability Skills
This Unit highlights generic skills that candidates will develop and use as they carry out practical activities in the trade-specific Units. These are skills which employees require to be successful in the workplace, and include: punctuality and timekeeping, taking instructions and advice; keeping the workplace tidy; interpreting simple drawings and developing measuring skills. - Construction Crafts: Half Brick Walling
In this Unit candidates are required to set out and build short lengths of half-brick thick wall to given drawings and to prescribed standards and tolerances. - Construction Crafts: Decorative Painting
In this Unit candidates are required to produce decorative finishes involving the use of brushes and rollers as well as stencilling. - Construction Crafts: Site Carpentry and Bench Joinery
In this Unit candidates are required to carry out small-scale tasks in both first-fix and second-fix joinery. They will learn skills in measurement, cutting and fixing of timbers and sheet materials. - Construction Crafts: Plumbing
In this Unit candidates are required to cut, assemble and join plastic pipework in accordance with given drawings using proprietary bends and tee-pieces. - Construction Crafts: Practical Copper Pipework
In this Unit candidates are required to cut, assemble and join copper pipework in accordance with given drawings. - Construction Crafts: Brickwork Techniques
This Unit builds on the Unit Half Brick Walling. In the Unit Brickwork Techniques, candidates are required to set out and build extended sections of half-brick wall thick. This extended work will require the use of builders’ line. The work will be carried out in accordance with given drawings and to prescribed tolerances. - Construction Crafts: Carpentry and Joinery Techniques
In this Unit candidates are required to erect a small-scale framed and panelled assembly and to fabricate and replace one panel to carefully match existing. - Construction Crafts: Decorative Finishes Using Water-borne Paints
In this Unit candidates are required to carry out painterwork tasks with purely water-borne paints. This will include a proprietary two-coat system. - Construction Crafts: Electrical Installation
In this Unit candidates are required to wire up and connect a number of different fittings. - Construction Crafts: Plasterwork
In this Unit candidates are required to work with a range of plastering equipment and materials and will be required to apply plaster to walls and manufacture plaster mouldings. - Construction Crafts: Roof Tiling
In this Unit candidates are required to complete a small-scale exercise in single lap roofing tiling to correct gauge and lap.
Assessment Approaches
Assessment in this Course will be based on a range of practical workshop activities, supported by assessor observation checklists and candidate self-checking of quality.
In the Employability Skills Unit, candidates will carry out self-evaluation on a range of skills, review their progress and identify action points.
Each Unit will be supported by a National Assessment Bank (NAB) item which will provide an assessment package and will exemplify the national standard.
Learning and teaching materials
Learning and teaching support packs have been produced by the Scotland's Colleges to support this Course. These can be accessed via the Scotland's Colleges website.
The trades-specific packs highlight good trade practice and contain helpful hints. The packs are written in such a way as to be suitable for candidates with no prior experience in construction crafts.
The packs contain step-by-step guidance on the skills and activities that candidates need to master in order to achieve the relevant Unit. However, they go beyond that in that they contain underpinning knowledge, a glossary of trade terms and an overview of the trade at an introductory level. Each pack is user-friendly. They make extensive use of pictures, illustrations and diagrams to engage the learner. The packs contain formative assessments and useful summaries throughout.
The Scotland's Colleges pack for the Employability Skills Unit contains guidance on learning and teaching approaches. It has two main sections – one for teachers and lecturers and another for candidates. Each of the employability skills developed and assessed during the Course is given attention in the pack.
Experience of the workplace
Work placement is not a mandatory requirement of this Course. Due to health and safety requirements and insurance restrictions it is impractical to arrange placements and work experience on building sites for candidates from S3 and S4.
Centres however, are encouraged to organise visits to construction sites where possible for each candidate group. Construction companies may be willing to accommodate site visits if centres organise the visits well in advance.
It may also be appropriate and valuable for candidate groups to receive visits from construction industry practitioners and tradespeople. Manufacturers and suppliers of building materials may be willing to visit centres to speak to groups of candidates or to invite them to their supply depots or factories.
Resource requirements
Centres will require workshop facilities for each of the practical Units in the Course. Equipment and small tool requirements are not onerous and are no more than would be expected for building crafts work at this level. The two painterwork Units Decorative Painting and Decorative Finishes Using Water-borne Paints will require a small selection of specialist rollers. These are readily available from a variety of sources.
There is no requirement for heavy plant or scaffolding. There is no requirement for candidates taking the Electrical Installation Unit to work with live electricity. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be essential for all candidates. This may include safety footwear, overalls, gloves, masks and hard hats as required. (This list of PPE is not intended to be exhaustive and centres should carry out risk assessments for all activities as required and comply with all relevant legislation).
Progression
This Course may provide candidates with opportunities to progress to:
- Construction Crafts Course (Intermediate 2)
- Scottish Vocational Qualifications in the area of construction crafts
- further education
- training/employment
Internal Assessment Reports
Revised Arrangements documents
Conditions and Arrangements
Revised Arrangements documents
Lead Verifier Reports
Related Information
