Following the amazing graduate showcase over summer, we spoke to some of the students at Clay College about all things studio pottery, their time in Stoke-on-Trent and what they plan to do next...
What is Clay College?
Clay College Stoke's mission is to teach practical pottery skills and design to an international standard – producing highly-skilled, self-sufficient and diverse makers, while protecting the renowned status of British studio ceramics.
Noticing the focus in Higher Education was moving from making and practical skills towards more concept and design work, posing a threat to the future of studio pottery, Lisa Hammond and Kevin Millward felt they had to take action and do something to preserve the specialist skills and pass on valuable knowledge of a generation of Master Potters.
Originally the ‘Adopt a Potter’ apprenticeship scheme, when Clay College opened its doors in September 2017, 90% of the funding came from potters, ceramic suppliers, collectors, galleries and pottery associations – all generously donated money, equipment, pots and time to show their support. An independent, UK registered charity, Clay College Stoke has never received any public funding.
Full-Time Pottery Course
The Clay College Stoke Diploma Course offers 14 full-time students the opportunity to study intensively for two years. A skills-based, full-time course taught by potters making a living through ceramics (unique in the UK), the focus is on core skills and materials. Students are taught all aspects of design, throwing, glazing, kiln building and firing, alongside traditional hand building and decoration techniques, business, PR and marketing.
A Middleport Pottery tenant, sharing this historic Stoke-on-Trent site alongside other businesses including Burleigh, Clay College also runs a variety of classes, talks and events open to the public, giving everyone the opportunity to learn from world-renowned master potters visiting the college to teach.
Clay College: Class of 2026
Below is a list of the class of 2026 at Clay College Stoke, along with a few quotes from students.
- Rachel Berry
- Gareth Bromley
- Emily Davidson-Brett
- Laurent Haquin
- Rachel Jeffree
- Seetal Kusbia
- Jessica Lambe
- Rosie Marchewka
- Jacob Parrett
- Hattie Perry
- Fiona Reid
- Quay Tran
- Colin Turnbull
- Claudia Wyatt
Laurent Haquin
“I heard of the course through Jessica Mason and was sold after I spoke to Kevin at the open day I attended. I can highly recommend the course although it must be said the group element was most challenging ( I am a mature student!). Planning to head back to Edinburgh and resume ceramics after a period of rest (i.e from January 2027). Interested in continuing to develop my own work, teach and look to support individuals (all ages) and groups in the creative process.” Laurent
Rachel Jeffree
“For me, the decision to apply to Clay College came about initially from the desire to switch my career from Engineering and pursue my passion. I had been training at evening classes for about five years before applying to the College, and from my reading about the available courses in the UK, Clay College was the place where I was confident I would be set up well to become a fully functioning potter on graduating. [...]
During the course, I split my evenings between my home in Nottingham and Stoke. I stayed in a little flat behind Hanley Cemetery, it was lovely and quiet, once rush hour on the main road calmed down! I have some lovely memories of being in Stoke, many evenings spent at various pubs and restaurants around Newcastle, Middleport and Hanley.
For me the most valuable part about attending Clay College has been the unrelenting support from the Staff in pursuing what type of maker I wanted to be (what all of us wanted to be or needed to find lurking inside them). We had masterclasses from so so many talented potters, all working in such varied styles and techniques, so that we would have exposure to all of the wonderfully wide world that is ceramics.
On graduating, I will be able to continue making from my home studio in Nottingham, and will be looking to take on orders in the coming months (some I already have on the books lined up!). I will also be taking on some production throwing work a couple of days a week, and plan to teach some evening classes further down the line.” Rachel
Claudia Wyatt
“I found out about the course when I was researching full time ceramics courses. I didn’t want to go back to university (I have a masters already) and do a course which would be more theoretical than practical. The idea that the course is designed to equip us with skills in every aspect of the ceramic process from start to finish really appealed to me. I also really liked the idea of going into such a small college and how we all became a unit which supported each other and developed together – it really is a special place!
The crazy thing about Clay College is that if you have a specific idea or goal in mind, the tutors will do everything in their power to support our development. The tutors and visiting potters are so invested in our development and we have had the privilege of being taught by a really wide range of very talented and established potters! I think the most valuable thing for me has been the support in developing my style but also becoming more confident with glaze development and firings! [...]
Now I am looking forward to setting up my own studio space and looking for an affordable place to do that in the area. I’m also looking at refurbishing a gas kiln so I can continue working on my crystalline glazes.” Claudia
We look forward to seeing what the Class of 2026 do next (some of which feature in our UK Ceramics Directory) and getting to know the latest students at Clay College.