NVQ 2 Wall+Floor Tiling? Waste of time...? - TilersForums.co.uk | Tile Forums

vesco · 25-03-2008

Don't get me wrong i'm glad to be doing an NVQ but I thought when i began the course that at the end i would be a fully qualified tiler but nothing could be further from the truth. I've learnt more about tiling on this forum in the last 6 weeks than i have in the last seven months on the NVQ 2 Wall and Floor Tiling course. I don't know what the syllabus of an NVQ is but i'm looking into it, i have been 'taught' how to put tiles on a floor and a wall in different patterns for the last seven months. I have to do three projects to get my NVQ, when doing projects i realized that i know very little about tiling but this forum has taught me more than my NVQ did, but i cant learn through text i need someone to show me but my tutor doesn't do that. Obviously my knowledge of tiling is weak but here through this forum is what i know i haven't been taught-

trim- never been shown how to cut it or anything else, never mentioned

sealant- never been shown how to apply it, it has never been mentioned

chalk line- never been shown how to use it, never been mentioned

movement joints- 10 mins total tuition

Teaching students of all the different type tiles and how they should be approached and handled- absolutely nothing, no info or direction

preparation of surface- told how to prepare surface on paper for NVQ assignments, never shown practically.

how to tile very large areas and what are those gold borders i see in shopping centers? - no information

Preparing surface- making walls/floors/steps level before tiling, told i need to but never been shown how, never been shown how to use leveling compound?

How to lay backerboard or whatever its called, or put wood(?) floor down in order to tile onto it? Spoke of a few times but never greatly explained or PRACTICALLY SHOWN!!!

How to overcome difficult surface preparation in order to begin tiling on a sound surface- how many times shown- NEVER

Under tile heating- wouldn't know where to start, never mentioned?

and there is more, i could not become a professional tiler after this course

Is this the normal NVQ?

25-03-2008

I understand where you are coming from and can only empathise with your frustration.

My first couple of weeks on an NVQ :

I was told to learn to look telephone numbers in London up

Taught to make a tile staff through a video

Allowed to tile a Herringbone pattern I grouted it and got a bollocking no grouting till at least three months.

Taught how to calculate M2 area I learnt that when I was 10.

It went on and on

Some time ago i interviewed a guy who had just completed his NVQ 2

I asked him three questions

What is the difference between Class B and Class AA adhesive? (I know the classifications have changed now as well) (No Idea)
Explain Briefly Tanking? (No Idea)
Tell me what a Datum Line is? (No Idea)

He added things to his answers of no idea but I won't bore you with the drivel

Give me a tiler who has paid for a good quality intensive course any day

Kev

Kev

25-03-2008

Did mine at the sheffield college

Is urs at a college or with a training provider?

Learnt all the above skills at college which u have not yet been taught in 7 months

Very strange indeed.

All the best anyway mate welcome to the forum

floydyboy · 25-03-2008

its like any trade,you need hands on exsperience, college course on its own no good, you need practical and theory, site and classroom to be taught properly

**ChaseTiling** · 26-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by vesco

Don't get me wrong i'm glad to be doing an NVQ but I thought when i began the course that at the end i would be a fully qualified tiler but nothing could be further from the truth. I've learnt more about tiling on this forum in the last 6 weeks than i have in the last seven months on the NVQ 2 Wall and Floor Tiling course. I don't know what the syllabus of an NVQ is but i'm looking into it, i have been 'taught' how to put tiles on a floor and a wall in different patterns for the last seven months. I have to do three projects to get my NVQ, when doing projects i realized that i know very little about tiling but this forum has taught me more than my NVQ did, but i cant learn through text i need someone to show me but my tutor doesn't do that. Obviously my knowledge of tiling is weak but here through this forum is what i know i haven't been taught-

trim- never been shown how to cut it or anything else, never mentioned

sealant- never been shown how to apply it, it has never been mentioned

chalk line- never been shown how to use it, never been mentioned

movement joints- 10 mins total tuition

Teaching students of all the different type tiles and how they should be approached and handled- absolutely nothing, no info or direction

preparation of surface- told how to prepare surface on paper for NVQ assignments, never shown practically.

how to tile very large areas and what are those gold borders i see in shopping centers? - no information

Preparing surface- making walls/floors/steps level before tiling, told i need to but never been shown how, never been shown how to use leveling compound?

How to lay backerboard or whatever its called, or put wood(?) floor down in order to tile onto it? Spoke of a few times but never greatly explained or PRACTICALLY SHOWN!!!

How to overcome difficult surface preparation in order to begin tiling on a sound surface- how many times shown- NEVER

Under tile heating- wouldn't know where to start, never mentioned?

and there is more, i could not become a professional tiler after this course

Is this the normal NVQ?

We cover the lot in our NVQ programme that lasts 26 weeks (6 weeks practical & 20 weeks to get your NVQ assessments in). We even go into natural stone and different grouts / adhesives. We work very closely with Weber Building Solutions that provide us with up to the minute tech data on product changes.

We get a few students that have been to college and dropped out after a couple of months because they are fed up of learning nothing. They come to us and get straight on with their NVQ programme.

I must add here, that an NVQ2 does not require you to install UFH. This is an optional module if required.

26-03-2008

Kev, is that over a tiler with 5 years experience on the tools?

**Fekin** · 26-03-2008

Dosen't sound very good, does it.

My course was bad as it was. never mind an NVQ course being just as bad, or even worse.

Just goes to show that this forum and the helpful members we have can beat hands down even an supposedly NVQ training center, with the correct practise and methods, and all advise is free here too

I know it still does not beat propper hands on training, but this forum does bridge the gap between poor training centers and the good.

**ChaseTiling** · 26-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fekin

Dosen't sound very good, does it.

My course was bad as it was. never mind an NVQ course being just as bad, or even worse.

Just goes to show that this forum and the helpful members we have can beat hands down even an supposedly NVQ training center, with the correct practise and methods, and all advise is free here too

I know it still does not beat propper hands on training, but this forum does bridge the gap between poor training centers and the good.

Your right, thats why I have contributed thousands of posts on here in a past life, to help others that have had poor training or are just looking to improve themselves generally.

Plenty of advice on here, and it is an excellent tool for personal development to enhance the BASIC skills you learn at college.

This is coming from a guy that has sat on both sides of the fence

LM Ceramics · 27-03-2008

when i started my apprenticeship i was sent to college in liverpool i started it a yea after i was tiling after a year on the course i dropped out absolute waste of time not the tutors fault really he spent most of the time filing registers in and the amount of nob heads in the class didnt help i wasnt to bad i didnt need to much help but they didnt cover alot of things ( the course didnt even show the lads how to grout properly) ill say no more the theory side was extremly boring the most of the units we covered wasnt to do with tiling it was scaffolding and building some of the older lads spent alot of money on the course a i feel sorry for them

i eventually want to get my nvq as im doing alot of site work now but i think id rather go to chase tiling ( when i get some spare cash) i believe you do a weeks plumbing course know C hase ill be going on that aswell

**Fekin** · 27-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseTiling

thats why I have contributed thousands of posts on here in a past life

Past life, sounds intriguing

**Dave** · 27-03-2008

That's got you thinking hasn't it..........

**Fekin** · 27-03-2008

Well, I see he/she's a forum mod now too

**Dave** · 27-03-2008

seems you haven,t took much notice adam..because Ant has been a moderator of the NVQ forum for quiet a while now.......

**Fekin** · 27-03-2008

Ahh, well I don't go in there, and never noticed the mod bar in the avatar boxy thingy, and what with the name in yellow, it don't stand out that much