Starting a floristry course - what tools do I need in my starter kit?

[chicaguapa]

I've signed up for an evening course at my local sixth form college. The blurb says I need a basic toolkit; floral scissors, secateurs, floral knife, wires, tape, etc. I realise this answers my question but I wondered what the etc. might be and if anyone could point me in the direction of which tools to buy please?

I'm a complete beginner beyond finding the best vase to put a bunch of flowers from the supermarket in, but am interested in being able to put arrangements together myself so would hopefully use the tools after I finish the course.

Thanks.

No idea but I'm envious - I'd love to do a floristry course.

Lucky you.
I've done a couple of floristry courses in the past and be warned - it is addictive but sooooooooooooooo therapeutic.
I wouldn't buy too much at this stage as it depends on the tutor what type of arrangements you'll be doing.
The only things I'd add to what you've already listed are a couple of bricks of the wet floral foam (green colour available from Hobbycraft or a local florist) and a couple of cheap plastic saucer-shaped containers (again from Hobbycraft or Wilkinsons).
3 or 4 Frogs may also come in useful. These are small round plastic 2pence piece -sized discs with 4 upright prongs at the edges. (I think they're called frogs because they resemble an open mouth of a frog when viewed from above.)
They are fixed to the bottom of a container, either with the sticky pad they have on the bottom or with florists fix (a bit like a green version of blue tack) and then the florist foam is pushed onto the prongs to hold it in place. (Hobbycraft).
On one course that I did, we were written to a few days before the start of the course with a list of things which we had to bring on the first night. Towards the end of each lesson, the tutor would gather us around to quickly run through what we would be making the following week and she had handouts listing everything we needed to bring the following week.
By the way, once you've done this, you'll rarely use a vase again!