This short, part-time ceramics course is designed for anyone with an interest in exploring three-dimensional creative practice, regardless of prior experience. Learners will develop technical skills in hand-building, wheel-throwing, and surface decoration, supported by access to exceptional facilities at our Barry campus, including a dedicated glaze room, potter’s wheels, and three large kilns.
The course promotes experimentation, visual research, and reflective practice, enabling participants to understand material properties and design principles within a craft context.
By engaging in structured practical activities, learners will build confidence, creativity, and transferable skills that support progression into full-time art and design study.
Students will research ceramic artists and historical traditions to inspire their own ideas, developing concepts through sketching and visual recording. Practical sessions focus on building technical capability, including hand-building methods, surface decoration, and glaze application to achieve professional finishes.
The course aligns with UAL Level 1 Award in Art, Design and Media Unit 1 and Unit 2 by encouraging exploration of materials, processes, and ideas. Learners will produce resolved ceramic work, demonstrating creativity, technical skill, and reflective practice.
Our Barry campus offers outstanding ceramics facilities designed to support both beginners and experienced makers. Learners benefit from a fully equipped glaze room for experimenting with surface finishes, multiple potter’s wheels for wheel-throwing techniques, and three large kilns capable of firing a range of clay bodies and glazes.
These professional-standard resources provide an authentic studio experience, enabling students to explore traditional and contemporary ceramic practices in depth. The spacious, well-lit environment encourages creativity and collaboration, ensuring participants have access to everything they need to produce high-quality ceramic work and develop technical confidence.
Administration Fee: £10.00
Awarding Organisation Fee: £50.00
Course Fee: £65.00
No prior ceramics experience or formal qualifications are needed, though basic literacy and numeracy skills will help.
Completing this short ceramics course provides an excellent foundation for further study in the creative arts. Learners who develop an interest in expanding their skills can progress onto one of the college’s full-time art and design programmes, where they will explore a broader range of disciplines such as painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and digital media. These courses offer opportunities to build a comprehensive portfolio, prepare for higher-level qualifications, and pursue careers in the creative industries. The ceramics course equips learners with confidence, technical ability, and creative thinking—key attributes for success in advanced art and design study.