Each week on a Thursday, several pupils in Years 5 and 6 participate in Clay Club, where they progressively develop their ceramic skills through a series of structured, creative projects. The programme introduces a range of hand-building techniques, including pinch pot construction, coil building, and slab forming, allowing students to gain confidence and control when working with clay.
Over the course of the sessions, pupils produce a variety of ceramic pieces such as pinch pots, coil pots, slab structures, animal sculptures, decorative plates, tiles, pencil holders, and textured impression bowls. Each project is designed to strengthen technical understanding while encouraging individual creativity and artistic expression.
We are fortunate to have access to our own kiln. Once the clay pieces are fully dried, they undergo a bisque firing at approximately 1000°C, transforming the clay into a durable ceramic material. After this stage, students apply paint-on glazes, exploring colour, layering, and decorative finishes. The glazed pieces are then refired at a higher temperature, allowing the glaze materials to vitrify and develop a glossy, colourful surface.
The results are impressive and professional in appearance—each piece demonstrates the pupils’ growing skill, patience, and attention to detail. Many students choose to gift their finished ceramics to family members, and the high quality of the work produced makes this club one that truly deserves recognition and celebration.
