Upcoming Courses

This course introduces learners to the raku firing process which is a low fire process. In raku, pottery is removed from the kiln when red hot.¿It is cooled rapidly, often in combustible material like sawdust or paper.¿Raku can be a very volatile and exciting firing process and produce work with a beautiful lustrous finish or a traditional ‘crackle’ glaze and learners will be able to craft a range of work and select a limited number of items for raku firing on the final session.

If you’re interested in improving the energy efficiency of UK homes and exploring a career in retrofit, sustainability, property maintenance, or energy consultancy, this course is for you. If you live in London and the surrounding areas and can study on Thursdays and Fridays, this course is the ideal way to start your career in the green skills sector.

The course is delivered in person in Central London, on Thursdays and Fridays for 3 weeks. There is an online exam at the end of the course, which will be at the Lisson Grove site.

Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit is being funded through DESNZ Warm Homes programme.

This three-day summer school is designed for beginners, and will cover key skills and techniques needed to progress to a higher level. You will work with beautiful fresh flowers and create both traditional and contemporary designs, which you can take home each week. The course also covers key health and safety requirements.

This course is specifically for learners who have made work on the wheel intensive courses and wish to complete their work by glazing
Learners must have a range of bisque fired work to glaze.

Please note: We have multiple courses starting every 5 weeks. Click course details for course options and dates.

Learners will have one wheel each. This course covers all techniques including basic beginner-level skills such as clay preparation, centring, throwing to cylinder, making bowls and turning a foot ring.

On this 4 day course programme to build and develop your fine art portfolio. This is ideal for for creatives working towards portfolio preparation for university/college or a career change.

The course is a 'summer school' for current students who wish to continue to craft over the summer break. It will be self-directed but tutor led and is designed to build proficiency and confidence in handbuilding and/or wheel throwing. You'll produce quality work from a personal student created brief, using contemporary and historical ceramics for inspiration.

This specialist short course focuses on the ceramic surface, with a specific attention given to working on your very own series of decorated tiles.

You will be guided through a range of processes exploring repeated patterns and experimental printing techniques for your own tile designs. You will learn how to effectively apply your designs, illustrations or painterly surfaces to your tile forms using techniques such as mono-printing with clay slips, paper and fabric stencilling. You will also learn various techniques in refining and finishing your work.

By the end of the course learners will have the skills and knowledge to work independently and effectively with clay slips and oxides.

This course is for clothes making beginners. In this course will learn how make a basic top in calico (unbleached cotton fabric) and then make the garment in your chosen fabric.

Gain Confidence in English is a welcoming Community ESOL course for adults who want to improve their English for everyday life and work. Whether you are new to English or already know a little, the course helps you build confidence step by step. Classes run from Pre-Entry to Entry 3 and provide a supportive space to practise speaking, listening, reading and writing with others in your local community.Lessons focus on real-life situations—such as talking to your child’s school, visiting the doctor, travelling around London or communicating at work—so you can use English in a practical and meaningful way.

Gain Confidence in Maths is a friendly community course designed for adults who want to improve their everyday numeracy skills. Whether you have always found maths difficult or simply want to refresh what you already know, this course helps you build confidence step by step.By strengthening your foundation in maths, you will develop the skills needed to manage real-life situations—from budgeting and understanding bills to comparing prices, planning journeys, or making informed decisions for work or home. Lessons are practical, supportive and easy to follow, using interactive activities, group discussions and real-world examples to make maths feel relevant and achievable.You will have plenty of chances to practise, ask questions, and apply what you learn in a safe and encouraging environment.

Helps you to improve your Digital skills for work.

Helps you to improve your English in reading, writing and spoken language.

Our ESOL courses are based on the syllabus of the ESOL Skills for Life curriculum for each level and focus on developing reading, writing and speaking and listening skills over an academic year.

Family Learning at WAES offers a wide range of friendly, practical workshops designed to empower parents and carers to support their children’s education and wellbeing. Whether you want to better understand how your child learns, feel more confident helping with homework, strengthen family relationships, or enjoy creative activities together, you’ll find a course that suits your needs.Our workshops cover essential skills such as key maths concepts, English and phonics, digital safety, and understanding how schools teach and assess children. Examples include Everyday English for Parents New to the UK, Read and Spell in English Using Phonics, Developing Mathematical Reasoning in KS2 and Empowering Parents in the Digital Age, Confident Communication.

Helps you to improve your practical maths skills. You will be able to apply the skills learnt in everyday life, both at home and in the workplace.