Me and my friend had a great experience at Social Pottery Making. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable even as beginners. The painting session was fun. All the staff are lovely and welcoming. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested.
Six weeks at the wheel from zero — Level 1 covers centring, throwing, trimming and glazing your own pieces.
Immerse yourself in the art of wheel throwing with our six-week hands-on course, designed for complete beginners. Guided by skilled instructors, you'll learn essential techniques such as centring, shaping and trimming on the potter's wheel. Each session builds on the last, helping you develop confidence and creativity as you craft your own unique pieces.
By the end of the course you'll have beautifully glazed creations to take home and cherish, all while enjoying a relaxed and welcoming studio environment. Perfect for anyone looking to unlock their creativity and experience the joy of pottery.
Course details
Duration: six weeks — five consecutive weekly classes, a one-week break for drying, then the final glazing class
Cost: £260, with all materials and firing included
Class size: limited to 8 potters
Clay allowance: one 12kg bag per person — 4 to 6 balls of clay in each class
Start dates: courses begin every couple of months, with day and time options at booking
Week by week
Week 1 — Introduction & centring
Some intensive teaching to start: you'll be guided, through demonstrations, on preparing your clay, throwing a pot on the wheel, and centring, opening and pulling up the walls of your pot — with plenty of practice time.
Week 2 — Cylinder throwing
You'll practise your centring, then be shown how to produce a basic cylinder on the wheel — the shape that prepares you for making every kind of pot.
Week 3 — Trimming & turning
You'll turn (trim) your pots on the wheel using a variety of tools. This is when they begin to tidy up into finished forms.
Week 4 — Independent projects
Now you work on your own projects — using everything you've learnt to produce a variety of vessels and refine your skills.
Week 5 — Final making & refinement
Your last making week: trimming, adding handles and refining all of your pots before the finale.
One-week break — time off for your pieces to dry properly and get ready for glazing.
Week 6 — Glazing
The final class introduces you to glazing as you finish all your pots with a beautiful glaze. They then go through their second firing, ready to collect.
Good to know
Your finished pieces are ready for collection two to three weeks after the last class, and we hold them for 30 days once we let you know they're ready.
First time with us? Our pottery course FAQs cover the week-by-week flow, glazing and firing, missed classes and collection.
