Pottery - Throwing & Turning - Improvers [SSK]

Course intent

This workshop is held over three consecutive sessions and aims to get you started with throwing pots on a potter’s wheel. Then, when the pots are leather hard, returning to turn and finish the pots and agree on surface decoration and/or glazing. This is a course for IMPROVERS ONLY in need of a refresher at throwing pots on the wheel.

Enjoy the well-being benefits gained through working in a friendly, creative learning environment.

What will we cover?

• Wedging the clay, centring the clay on the wheel and making a basic cylinder

• altering the basic cylinder shape
• practising and developing your throwing skills
• improving and building confidence with throwing skills
• ‘turning’ your pots and making them ready for the firing process
• surface decoration or adding handles, making lips and foot rings
• Safeguarding, Prevent and British Values
• Maintaining a clean and safe studio

Following the workshop your work will be bisque fired and glazed, ready to collect approximately two weeks after the course as advised by your tutor.

Learners will be inspired by the contemporary and historical context of the craft and will need to keep a sketchbook / notebook to record ideas, processes and progress, and the feedback they receive from the tutor.

There will be demonstrations, instruction, one-to-one tutorial guidance, group discussions and critiques.

You’ll complete an Individual Learning Plan so that you make best possible progress.

Who is this course for? Is there anything I need to know before joining?

Some experience of pottery is essential.

As our courses are taught in English, please contact us if you have any concerns about your level of English.

What do I need to bring to the first class? Will there be any extra costs?

• Sensible closed-toe shoes

• An old towel
• Apron & suitable clothes for a pottery studio
• Notebook and pen
• Long hair must be tied back for certain processes
• Nails should be clipped as long nails damage your work
• Avoid wearing hand and wrist jewellery to prevent loss or damage

Basic materials and technician costs are included.

If you choose to work on a large project, you may be asked to pay an additional cost for materials depending on its size. As a guide, Individual pieces higher than 15 inches/38 cm and wider than 12 inches/35 cm would be considered as large projects.

We are only able to fire work that has been produced in the class using materials provided by SAL (Surrey Adult Learning).

Please bring refreshments or change for the coffee machine onsite. A water bottle may be brought into the studio.

What can I do when I finish the course?

You have the opportunity to join a longer Surrey Adult Learning course or attend other pottery workshops. Glazing workshops are also available.

Additional information

We welcome learners with additional needs and disabilities. When you enrol, please let us know if you would like to discuss your extra support needs with a member of the Supported Learning Team who will then contact you as soon as possible. If you are enrolling within 10 days of the course start date, we may not be able to contact you before your first class. Surrey Adult Learning values and supports equality and diversity by promoting fairness and respect at all times.

How to enrol

You can't currently enrol online for this course, so please call 0300 200 1044 to express your interest or to make an enquiry for further information.

Find another course

If this isn't what you're looking for, then we've got plenty more courses to offer!