Welcome to the Scottish School of Forestry

 Introduction to your programme

At SSF we offer three different FE courses, these are:

• NC Rural Skills (SCQF Level 4)
• Certificate in Forestry (SCQF Level 5)
• Advanced Certificate in Forestry (SCQF Level 6)

These courses are largely practical in nature involving a significant amount of time in our ‘outdoor classrooms’ – either the surrounding forest, our forestry yard or the ‘tractor shed’, which comes complete with heating for colder days! There is some written work required and the volume of this increases as you progress, in keeping with the level of your qualification.

Your course is classed as a full time course which usually involves either three or four days in College per week. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are working through arrangements for how these courses will run during this academic year. We hope to confirm these arrangements shortly. You will be able to download your course timetable from the College website as soon as it becomes available.

Normally Induction takes place in the last week of August. Semester 1 runs for 18 weeks between early September and late January (there is a 1 week October break and a 2 week Christmas holiday). Semester 2 runs for 18 weeks between late January and mid June (there is a 2 week Easter holiday).

As part of your course, if you have a funded place, you will be given your own PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which is tailored to the needs of your course. You will be required to provide personal measurements to ensure that this fits you properly. You will be issued with a form over the summer and it would be helpful if you could return that to us promptly.

It is also important to understand that we take health and safety very seriously at SSF. We must all take responsibility for our own safety and that of our colleagues in an environment where we will be using equipment and machinery. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including prescription medications) which may affect your ability to work and study is not acceptable from a health and safety perspective. If you are taking prescription medications which make you drowsy or impact your perceptions in any way you must inform your Professional Development Advisor or Lecturers.

Consolidating your skills

We encourage all students to secure employment in the sector during your studies as it helps to consolidate the skills that you learn in college (and lets you earn some money). We are fortunate to have many forestry contracting businesses and local estates that look for seasonal and part time employees to help with tree planting, fencing and other forestry related work. At the start of your studies with us we will be organising a session with prospective employers which may help with you finding work.

Preparing for your course

Here are some ideas of things you could look at to get you thinking about rural skills, forestry and the outdoors before you arrive:

The Making of Scotland's Landscapes: Trees is an hour long film presented by Dr Iain Stewart. This BBC Programme will provide you with an understanding of how tree cover in Scotland has changed over the centuries.

Have a think about what forestry career you might wish to pursue – there are lots of options for you to have a look at on the Royal Forestry Society's website.

Foresters have to demonstrate good water management and there are some great best practice resources available on the Forestry and Water Scotland webpages. Check these guides and videos out.

Get yourself fit – the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the course!

Get a hold of a copy of the Collins Tree Guide (Johnson & More) and get outside and try your hand at some tree identification. Look at the tree shape and bark, not just its leaves/ needles and flowers.