24 Dec 2024
Pupils at Skyswood Primary School enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their ceramic skills at a pottery exhibition alongside local potters Mike Hardy, Kathy Osmond and Jane Collins.
The idea of a ceramics club was introduced by the headteacher, Bob Bridle, back in 2021, when the children returned to a full-time bubble-free education after lockdown.
He explained: “I wanted to do something a bit different that would be special for the children on their full-time return from lockdown. The Pottery Club has proven so popular with our Year 6 pupils that we’ve kept it going ever since.”
The children exhibited a wide variety of work, including pinch pots, slab-building, agateware, gluggle jugs, slip-casting, figurines, leaf-inspired bowls and various experiments using glass and glazes.
They will develop their skills further after Christmas and are looking forward to Mike and Kathy coming in to help them next term with some fascinating techniques, such as smoke firing and Japanese raku.
Skyswood pupils had previously made their very own raku kiln within the school grounds and this year’s Pottery Club will also be working with the extremes of clay, with some dug straight out of the school grounds alongside highly specialised clays such as porcelain.
The children keep log-books to record ideas, processes and photos of their finished products.
