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Courses Learning With Us About Us
Close up of two people turning clay on pottery wheel

Pottery - Beginners

Funding area Creative Arts (Entry Level)
MAI/145535/P/PF
Location:
Oakwood House, Maidstone
Start date:
09/01/2025
End date:
20/03/2025
Level:
Entry Level
Time:
13:00 - 15:30
Duration:
10 sessions
Course hours:
Course hours

Course hours are the total number of hours you'll spend being taught by your tutor. Self study time is not included within the course hours.

25 hours
Day of week:
THU
Tutor:
Judit Esztergomi
Price: £213.00 Concessions
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Who can join this course

This is one of our Tailored learning Entry level (Beginners) courses. This course is for learners who have not studied with us previously in the same subject area at Level 1 or above.
Eligible learners may enrol onto entry level courses in this subject area up to a maximum of 120 guided learning hours in total.
Please refer to our Course details for the subject area, and guided learning hours assigned to this course.
If you have already reached the maximum guided learning hours in this subject area and level, you should look to progress to courses at Level 1 (Improvers).

This course is aimed at those new to Pottery, little or no previous experience of Ceramics is needed. Those with some experience or have already completed Beginners courses should consider our range of Level 1 (Improvers) courses.

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Is this course for me

Our Creative Intent
Creativity is an essential aspect of human expression and plays a crucial role in fostering well-being and a sense of purpose.
The ambition of the Kent Adult Education Creative curriculum is to engage the community through an energetic and diverse programme offer planned to meet the varied needs and interests of Kent’s communities, thereby ensuring high quality learning is delivered across the county in dedicated adult education centres, online and in neighbourhood settings.
Creative courses aim to build confidence through learning, allowing students to express themselves, think critically, and collaborate with their peers. By empowering our students to become confident, imaginative, and adaptable learners, we aim to develop students' curiosity, resilience, and adaptability, preparing them for future challenges, opportunities, and personal development.

This Pottery course will guide you through the whole process of making objects in clay through demonstrations of hand-building, throwing and glazing techniques. You will learn slabbing, pinching, coiling and basic throwing skills on the potters' wheel. You will be taught different decoration techniques to apply colour using slip, glaze, and oxides. You will learn the difference between Earthenware and Stoneware glazes and how to apply them.

Course aims

By the end of the course you should be able to:

* Identify an appropriate material for your project
* Use at least three hand building techniques to produce a basic form
* Use at least three different tools for surface decoration
* Explain the health and safety considerations for all resources and tools used

What will I need for my course

Please bring a notepad and pen/pencil to your first lesson.
Unless otherwise stated, you will be advised in your first class what resources you will need. If you do have equipment appropriate to the subject, please bring them.

You will need to purchase all the clay you use from us as it is not costed into the course fees. Students are not permitted to bring their own clay into the studio.
A list of current clay prices is displayed in the studio, this cost is calculated from the unfired weight of your piece of work and includes an allowance for the cost of firing the piece. Once you have paid for each piece your work will be fired.

What can I do next

Your tutor will advise you on follow-on courses relevant to their subject.
You can attend further Beginners courses which will cover additional skills at Beginners’ level and use those you have already learned in different ways to help perfect them or progress to Improvers courses.

Non teaching dates

This course is scheduled to not be running on the following dates:

  • Thursday, 20 February 2025

Additional Information

From 1st August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) require that learners attending this course must identify their primary purpose for learning. This course is not available for learners whose main aim is to learn a hobby, or for leisure/pleasure.

To get the most out of your course we recommend you attend at least 85% of your sessions. If you do have a pre-arranged commitments booked during term time, please let the tutor know in advance so that we can help you catch up on missed sessions and ensure that you still achieve the course outcome.

For Health & Safety, please do not wear open toed shoes.

It is important to note that art and craft courses are practical and require a degree of manual dexterity. Also, please make your tutor aware of any pre-existing health conditions that may impact on your learning.
If you need to bring a carer with you, or another adult please speak to the Curriculum Leader for the course.

Getting to your course

Find us

Oakwood House
Oakwood Park
Maidstone
Kent
ME16 8AE

If you require any information about this location then please call 03000 41 22 22 and quote the Course Code MAI/145535/P/PF.