Craft & Design T Level

This T Level in Craft and Design with a focus on Ceramics is a practical and industry-aligned qualification that enables you to develop specialist skills in ceramic techniques, materials, and production processes. You will explore both traditional and contemporary approaches to ceramics, while building a solid foundation in design principles, visual communication, and contextual understanding.

In the first year, you will focus on core concepts across the craft and design sector, including health and safety, sustainability, digital design, and project planning. Through taught sessions, guided assignments and practical workshops, you will begin to specialise in ceramic methods such as hand-building, throwing, and glazing. In the second year, you will undertake an occupational specialism in Ceramics, where you will refine your skills through self-directed projects, technical demonstrations, and an employer-led industry placement. You will also develop your professional portfolio and gain real-world experience of working in a creative industry environment.

Core Knowledge & Skill: Understanding of the craft and design industry

Industry Placement: Real-world experience in a relevant workplace

Focused technical training and design practice such as: Hand-building (pinch, coil, slab), Wheel-throwing and turning, Mould-making and slip casting, Surface decoration and glazing techniques, Kiln preparation and firing (oxidation, reduction), Functional and sculptural ceramics, Design development and visual research, Health and safety in a ceramic studio, Contextual studies and sustainability in craft

Technical Qualification: 80% (100% External Assessment)
Industry Placement: 20%

This course is perfect for students with a genuine interest in exploring clay as a creative medium. You'll be encouraged to visit exhibitions, galleries, and craft fairs to gather inspiration, as well as research influential ceramicists such as Grayson Perry, Magdalene Odundo, Edmund de Waal, or Lucie Rie. Keeping a sketchbook with drawings, textures, colour palettes, and ideas will help you develop your personal style and creative voice.

Ceramics offers pathways into higher education, apprenticeships, and employment across the creative industries. Many students progress to degree-level study in subjects such as Ceramic Design, 3D Design, Applied Arts, or Craft and Materials Practice, often via an Art & Design Foundation Diploma.

Employment routes include roles as a studio assistant, ceramic technician, junior designer, or production assistant in craft manufacturing. Apprenticeships and studio-based training are also available, preparing you for careers in ceramics, craft, and design-related fields.