Pottery: Throwing for beginners

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Course Description

Course Description

This is a beginner’s course for complete beginners to those who wish to re-visit past skills. It aims to introduce learners to the skill of throwing, to develop their confidence and understanding of the techniques associated with throwing.

Beginners will focus on throwing cylinder shapes, practising centring, opening, and pulling, followed by other shapes as your confidence develops. You will be encouraged to think and experiment creativity through throwing techniques, covering trimming and turning.

You can expect, during course to improve and further your skills on throwing to enable you to develop your own personal projects.

Please do not buy tools and equipment until you know that the course will run.
Prosp Description

Open What will I learn on this course?

Learners will:
1. Throw at least 2-cylinder shapes.
2. Demonstrate at least 2 finishing techniques such as turning and trimming.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of clay recycling practices following Medway council climate change policies.

Learners will also observe appropriate health and safety requirements whilst working in the pottery studio.
Prosp Learn

Open Is this course suitable for me?

This is a beginner’s course for complete beginners to those who wish to re-visit past skills.
Prosp Suitable

Open Is there anything else I need to know about the course?

Learners will need the following tools and equipment please do not purchase until you are sure the course will run:

Please bring to all sessions:

• An apron/protective clothing and sturdy footwear is essential for Health and Safety reasons. It is recommended that you do not wear anything you value highly. You may wish to bring household gloves to use when glazing.
• A notebook and pen. There is a lot of information on some aspects of ceramics, and you will be glad of a notebook for reference especially when glazing your work.

Tools:
• A small sponge.
• A wooden dowel will be useful for checking hole sizes and can be used as rolling pin.
• A small wooden or hardboard board to support work.
• Plastic bag or pencil case to transport tools back home for cleaning.


As the course develops your tutor will advise you which turning tools you will need to buy.

The nearest supplier for specialist tools is The Clay Cellar at Brenchley,
https://www.claycellar.co.uk/tools
(Please check website for opening times and delivery details.)

It is possible to improvise many tools or make your own. For example, an old store card cut to shape can make an effective kidney scraper; a spike if required can be made with a thick crewel needle pushed into a cork.

Some of the guided learning hours will be used to set the group and individual learning targets for the course. Learners will then have time to revisit these targets with the tutor to assess progress.
Prosp Anything Else

Open Will there be additional costs?

All of the items made during the course can be taken home – a small charge will be made to cover material and firing costs according to finished weight.
Prosp Additional Costs

Open What could I go on to do after this course?

Your tutor can talk to you about other subject related course available.

Medway Adult Education works with many partners locally such as Mid Kent – Medway school of Art and the University of Kent; information about their courses can be found in our studios, café and on Moodle. Medway has an exciting and wide-range of events, exhibitions, and activities to inspire and help you make further progress - please see the community noticeboards in the Rochester centre and again on Moodle. Your tutor will be able to talk through with you individual progression options.
If you wish to explore your learning, work or career options, you can speak to a fully trained careers advisor on 0800 100 900. https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
If you need further advice please telephone 01634 338400.
Prosp After

Open What is the attendance policy?

In order to get the most out of your course you will need to attend as many sessions as possible. We recommend at least 90%. If you do have a holiday 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 outcomes. If you are unavoidably ill or unable to attend, please contact 01634 338400 so that we can let your tutor know, and so they can send you any work you may have missed
Prosp Attendance

Open How are IT/Digital skills used and enhanced on this course?

Learners will be encouraged to research personal project ideas through museums and gallery visits. Various handouts will be provided on techniques and sources of inspiration,
Prosp Ictskills

Open Health & Safety

Health and Safety Disclaimer
By participating in the live class you accept that you understand that pottery involves potentially hazardous tools and equipment and that such activity carries the risk of injury. You understand that it is your responsibility to judge your motor skills and physical ability.
It is your responsibility to ensure that by participating in classes and activities from Medway Adult Education, you will not exceed your limits while performing such activity, and you will select the appropriate level of task for your skills and abilities.
You understand that this is a pottery activity and you will need to be suitably dressed, you will need protect your work surface and be mindful of the correct Health & Safety processes when working with pottery MAE is not responsible for damage to personal items in or on your person.
The creators, owners and distributors of this site and the material available MAE are not responsible for any injuries you may experience as a result of your use of this site and the material contained here on. By remaining on this site and/or accessing and / or using any material, you are accepting that you have read, understood and agreed to follow these basic instructions.
Prosp Health

Open For e-learning courses - etiquette and safe learning

Q001285A
01/05/2025
10/07/2025
Thursday
10:00
12:00
2.00 hrs per session
10 session(s)
274.00
Rochester Adult Education Centre