Matthew Lamptey is one of our Adult Education students studying Pottery at Merton. Here he tells us about his experience taking the course. 

Matthew says: "I have wanted to learn to throw on the potter’s wheel since I was a child. After watching a throwing competition on the television, I decided to find a course locally which I could do after work. I'm a primary school teacher and my Pottery course at Merton offers me the space to be creative, meet like-minded people and unwind each week during term time.

Although my aim was to learn to throw, I have discovered a love for hand building along the way. I learn a lot from our tutor Karen, and my fellow students as well because we all follow different lines of creativity based on the term’s theme. What I choose to make is often a result of group discussion, personal research and guidance by my tutor. Everything I learn is noted in a sketchbook and it even inspires my own teaching. 

I would highly recommend a Pottery course to people who want to try something new or return to something they once enjoyed."