News

2020 has been a year with its fair share of challenges, but it also marks the 35th anniversary year of the Chippendale International School of Furniture. From humble beginnings in 1985, the School was founded by former principal and my father, Anselm Fraser, who developed it over the years into the world-renowned institution it is today. Fast forward to now, where I have been principal for one year after taking over from my father. 

From humble beginnings to global recognition

The Chippendale School has grown from modest workshops that accommodated just four students, to renovating a derelict farm building into the new School campus – where we now number about 45 students in total at any one time. Countless students have joined us over the last 35 years to hone their furniture making and business skills, with many of these travelling from around the world, from Germany and the US to Japan and Barbados, to study here. 
Of course, we couldn’t have grown without the expert knowledge and commitment of our valued tutors, some of whom started with us as apprentices and are still with us today – they are truly part of the furniture!

Overcoming adversity 

Of course, the last 35 haven’t come without their own set of challenges. Immigration rules have been tightened up over the years, and since we are committed to welcoming students from around the world, we endeavoured to become a tier 4 sponsored learning institution, and have a highly trusted sponsor status.
Living on campus when the School was a building site was difficult to begin with, but it has more than paid off with the high-quality workshops we now have access to everyday.
COVID-19 has of course been a challenge – it may be too early to celebrate, but we feel we haven’t done too badly considering the circumstances of this year, and have even received a record number of applications to our Professional Course.

Success stories 

Former principal Anselm Fraser reflects on the School’s history: “It is extraordinary to look at the School as it is today when I remember what it was when we started out all those years ago. It has certainly not been an easy journey, but on the whole the highs most certainly outweigh the lows. 
“It is immensely rewarding to hear how our School has impacted the lives of our alumni around the world. I had a vision of what I wanted the School to become, but the reality has far exceeded expectations.”
Some of our notable students include Ewan Ogilvie who set up Ogilvie’s of Haddington upon graduation, and Mike Whittall, who founded his business Ochre & Wood. Both create unique custom-made designs for clients, and are only two of the many successful businesses that have been set up as a result of our Professional Course.

Evolving with the times 

The exciting thing for me as principal is that I can see such an opportunity for developing the School even further. My aim is to build on the existing reputation of the Professional Course, while at the same time expanding our short course offering. 
As we establish these short courses, we will look to attract a whole new team of tutors from around the world. As we move into other crafts such as pottery, metal working and weaving, we will welcome new students that would otherwise not have come across our School.
A brilliant example of the students’ work will be on display at our end of year show, which is taking place later this month. It’s always so exciting to see the fruits of their nine months of hard work, and provides a glimpse of student work to watch out for in the future. Plus, we are also looking ahead to the new class of students coming in later this year – it’s always so inspiring to have fresh faces and ideas in the workshops. Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has been part of the fabric of the School over the past three and a half decades – here’s to the next 35! 

If you’re thinking of becoming a part of the Chippendale School’s legacy, why not take a look at the range of courses on offer by clicking here.