Jewellery making — Maria Fidelis School FCJ, London, England

An exciting curriculum development at Maria Fidelis School FCJ in Central London is jewellery making. An organisation called ‘London First’ which has close affiliations with Hatton Garden and the London jewellery industry, in conjunction with Camden LEA Business Partnership, provided the school  with funding for tools, equipment and materials to establish a range of jewellery making courses in school.

This course, the first of its kind in the country, has been designed to encourage students to acquire new skills, gain a BTEC Certificate qualification and facilitate career pathways directly into the London jewellery industry. It is led by  experienced jeweller and university lecturer Paul Ravn.  Students in the Sixth Form, are taught to acquire and develop a wide range of knowledge and skills before going on to design and manufacture their own individual quality pieces of jewellery. -  Already  one student has shown a sufficiently high level of skill  and creativity to  start a jewellery apprenticeship.

In the words of one enthusiastic student: "I have really enjoyed being involved in the jewellery project, I have been able to learn. and practice new skills and, with the help and guidance of Paul   I have very quickly been able to go on to design and make my own pieces. My most recent project has been a pair of ornate sterling silver ear-rings with mounted cubic zirconia stones. I am hopeful that this will be the start of my own eventual collection of jewellery."