Terms and Conditions

The Shire Workshops Ltd.’s (referred to here as the studio) terms and conditions are listed below. Please read before booking any classes to familiarise yourself with them and that you agree to be bound by them.
Daytime and Evening classes The studio offers 8-week termly classes for the beginner and more experienced. We want to create a supportive, warm, friendly, and encouraging atmosphere. We cover throwing on the potter’s wheel, various hand-building and sculpting techniques, as well as glazing and decorating techniques. Usually, with two tutors teaching our termly classes, you should always have someone to guide you in your ceramics experience.
Definition of terms “Participant” refers to any person who is paying to be part of a group or as an individual using the studio for their work.
Open Studio time. Open studio time is when the studio is open to anyone who pays for the use of the studio and facilities outside of class times. It can also be used for “catch-up times” for people to use for missed class times, all by arrangement.
Bookings. Sessions and Classes are booked on a first-come first-served basis. If there is a waiting list facility on the Website if a first choice of Session or Class is unavailable. Applicants will be charged for a Session or Class (as applicable) when they confirm their booking. Any person who books Open Studio time will be entitled to use the Studio’s permissible facilities at a current hourly rate. At the studio’s discretion, we are happy to help and advise; but because we have studio running and admin tasks at the studio, we cannot be involved in sustained teaching. If a participant wishes to use any additional Open Studio time during any Week, they must agree such time in advance with the management of the Studio and purchase such additional Open Studio time in advance in blocks of 2 hours. Each hour shall be charged at the standard contract rate applicable to such participant. The provision of additional Open Studio is subject to Studio space being available and is at the discretion of the Studio.

Individual tuition bookings. Participants can book a tutor for individual sessions or small group sessions at our current studio hourly rate. To reserve a Class or Session, payment must be received 30 days prior to the scheduled start date. Cancellations must be made in accordance with the cancellation terms below.
Payments for Sessions and gift certificates in any amount are non-refundable. If a package is bought and only part used there will be no refund available for the remaining Sessions.
Gift vouchers. These are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. If the cost of a course exceeds the value of the gift card, the recipient is required to pay the remaining balance. Likewise, if the course is less than the value of the gift card, the credit will remain valid for the outstanding amount whilst the gift card is still active. 
Payments
Class fees should normally be paid in full in advance through the website via our secure checkout page.

Open Studio prices and Class prices. These are available either on the Website or directly from the Studio and will be revised from time to time. You will be given at least 10 working days’ notice of any increases in fees. Payments should be made when notified, either by bank transfer or cash at the time of booking. Subject to any statutory right of cancellation, payments for studio time, tuition bookings, and participation in Classes can only be refunded under certain conditions as described below.

Payment for courses. Payment of the full course fees should be made in advance when booking. and should be made at the time of placing a booking unless special arrangements are made on an individual basis. It is not possible to attend a course unless payment has been received.

Charges for materials and firing. Participants pay a single payment which covers materials, two firings, and handling. The fee is based on pre-fired weight to allow for recycling of unwanted pots. You can choose to fire as much or as little as you wish, as this is calculated by kg of clay. Current fees are approximated on 2p per gram, rounded to the nearest pound, with a 10% allowance subtracted for water content if the item is still damp.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made in writing by email. Non-attendance of bookings for studio time or tuition will need to be paid for as they mean others are not able to book those times. The courses are all costed based on running with a full class. For courses and workshops, we can only provide a refund (minus a 10% admin fee) for cancellations made more than 10 days before the start date. For cancellations less than 10 days before the course or workshop there will normally be no refunds or transfers. If a course or workshop is cancelled by the studio, you will be offered a full refund or a gift card to the same value of your booking.

Delegate Substitution. A substitute delegate may be named at any time before the course at no additional cost, but a substitute cannot attend halfway through a course. Once a course has commenced, the same student needs to attend the sessions. Once you have committed to a course or workshop, we recommend that you attend the scheduled number of sessions to get the most out of the programme. If the participant fails to attend all or any part of the course, we try to offer catch-up dates, but this is a concession. If we are given sufficient notice and can fill your place, we will offer you a refund or reschedule. If you cancel within 7 days and we are unable to fill your place, we are sorry, but we are unable to offer you a refund or reschedule, as this is not enough time to resell your place. We do however allow you to send a friend or family member of your choice to class in your place. Cancellations with more than 4 weeks’ notice – please email, and we will exchange the date. Cancellations with less than 4 weeks’ notice, please email, and we will try and re-book the class and exchange the date. Cancellations with less than 48 hours’ notice cannot be refunded or the date exchanged for last-minute cancellations. If The Shire Workshops Ltd cancels a course, we will offer you the choice of a full refund, to reschedule, or a gift card. 

Missing classes within a course series is non-refundable. As above, every effort is made for catch-up sessions, but these are concessions granted by the studio. The studio cannot be held responsible in respect of any Session, instructor and/or item of equipment not being available for whatever reason. The Studio reserves absolute discretion and without notice, the right to make alterations to the timings, structure, and content of any Session, and the identity of any instructor and/or the availability of any equipment, and/or the availability and nature of any ancillary facilities provided to participants. The Studio cannot be liable for any loss occasioned by such alterations except insofar as such loss is by law incapable of exclusion.  
Catch up times”
“Catch up times” are given to individuals who have missed their scheduled class. They will be negotiated to occur during open studio times or in the place of absentees during other classes at the management’s discretion. The catch-up times are only available during the current 8-week session and the following 8 weeks. After that time, they will be deemed to be cancelled as we are unable to accommodate the resulting accumulated catch-up times. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate a missed class session time with “catch-up times”, they are discretionary as missed class times are deemed to be lost if you do not attend.
Studio Opening Times
The Shire Workshops reserves the right to vary opening times. Opening times will be detailed on the Website and will be updated from time to time.
The Studio will be closed for a period over the summer and Christmas holidays. The Shire Workshops reserves the right to close the Studio for additional periods.
The Studio shall not be held responsible in respect of any Session, instructor and/or item of equipment not being available for whatever reason. The Studio reserves in its sole and absolute discretion and without notice the right to make alterations to the timings, structure, and content of any Session, and the identity of any instructor and/or the availability of any equipment, and/or the availability and nature of any ancillary facilities provided to Participants. The studio cannot be held liable for any loss from by such alterations except insofar as loss is by law incapable of exclusion.
Personal belongings are brought onto the Studio premises at the participant’s own risk, and the studio cannot accept liability for any loss or damage.
Parking Parking at the studio is at your own risk, and the studio cannot accept liability for any loss or damage. Please pull up as close to the hedge as possible and keep the driveway into the parking area clear.
Photography disclaimer – we regularly update our social media with photographs and videos of what has been going on in the studio. Therefore, we may be taking pictures of students and their work during a session. We will always ask permission to do so and please let us know if you do not feel comfortable with this. 
Communication The Studio may communicate with the participants by electronic mail (“email”). By providing an email address to the studio the Participants consent to receiving email communications from the studio. The Participants also accepts the risk that any email may not be a secure and confidential means of communication. The Studio will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered because of communicating with a Participant by email.

Data Privacy We respect your privacy, and all personal information will be compliant with EU GDPR regulations. All personal information is stored on a secure, internal database system. We keep personal identifiers, contacts, and characteristics until requested or obligated to remove them. After that, The Shire Workshops Ltd will dispose of your information by professionally deleting the files. If you have any concerns about how your data is being used, please contact us via email.
The studio has a public liability insurance certificate.
The Studio accepts no liability for any injury suffered by any Participant on the Studio premises or outside the Studio except insofar as such loss, damage or injury is by law, incapable of exclusion.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Minor Injuries In line with the Health and Safety Act (1981) we have a fully stocked first aid box. Please be careful when using sharp tools and equipment such as the heat guns. We advise hair to be tied back while working. In the event of an injury, alert your teacher immediately.

Food & Drink. Although we do not have a rule, we would advise that in the interests of safety and hygiene, you avoid food & drinks in the Studio. Any drinks or food are consumed at participant’s own risk.

Machines and equipment. There are certain machines and equipment that are not to be used. These will be identified. The kilns and pugmills are to be used by the staff only.

Electrical Safety. Only The Shire Workshops staff can operate the kilns. Please ask staff before using any electrical equipment, such as wheels and heat guns. We comply with fire safety procedures and government regulations. E.g. Fire blankets and fire extinguishers. PLEASE DON’T touch the kilns! Whether they are on or not.

Fire H&S. Fire exits are clearly marked and must always be kept clear. In the event of a fire, participants are asked to make their way to the nearest available exit and assemble in the car park well away from the building.
WORKSHOP PRACTICES AND ORGANISATION
Firing & Collecting work: We will publish on the website when work is ready for collection. Kilns and firing can be temperamental, so please be patient. We aim to turn around as soon as possible depending on filling the kilns. 

Pottery and glazing can be unpredictable. If you are unhappy with what comes out of the kiln, we cannot be held responsible. We do our best to advise, but there are no guarantees with the end results. Finished glazing results will vary depending on application technique, thickness of layers, and the type of clay.

Firing damages On occasions, even when participants follow all the teachings about sufficient wedging and glazing techniques, there can be incidents in the kiln: explosions and glazes running off pots. We do our best to minimise this happens, but it is the nature of ceramics, material, and firing. We will try to rectify any damage to pots where possible but the conditions inside the kiln are harsh and damage can occur. We ask you to take responsibility if your pots or glaze damages the kiln or other equipment. We ask you to contribute for any resultant damage, though this operates on a case-by-case basis. Usually, a contribution to a shelf replacement fund and covering costs of remedial work on pots and shelves where possible.

Storage and collecting work. Bisque-fired pots. Space is very limited. At the end of the current course, and you are booked onto the next class, please put your bisque work on the right shelf. If you are not booked on the next 8-week course, we would ask you to take your bisque work home whilst you are taking a break from the studio and bring it back to finish when you have booked in to finish it. Any unclaimed bisque: We will attempt to contact you, but after one month, if you have not responded, we will sadly have disposed of it. When you finish an eight-week session, please ensure you clear your unfired work or leave a note with your work or boxes concerning your intentions to finish and\or recycle any unfired pieces and clean your number off any boxes you are not using.
Use of facilities. Use of clay and glazes provided by the Studio is for use on pieces made in the Studio only. External clay and glazes or self-made glazes must not be used in the Studio unless prior permission is given. To gain permission, the clay and glazes must be identified or test-fired to ensure there will be no damage to the kilns or kiln furniture or other participant’s work.

We will endeavour to ensure that glazed pieces will be fired on purpose-made firing bats to prevent damage to kilns from running glazes. However, participants are liable for any damage to the kiln shelves caused by poorly applied glazes. We will not fire items in which the glaze is deemed to have been applied too thickly or residues are found on the base. To make sure your pieces conform, please leave at least a centimetre of unglazed clay around the base and clean the bottom to avoid glazes running and damaging kiln shelves. Always leave a warning note with your work if you use Float glazes. Always read the labels for instructions on all glazes or ask for advice before application. As Space is limited, work not collected within a month after the collection date published will be donated to charity or disposed of. We always try to avoid this and endeavour to contact you beforehand, as it feels such a shame.

Using your finished pieces. Ensure that if you intend to use your pottery pieces for food or drink, you have used food-safe glazes and no oxides for decoration. Do not use your pottery products in the microwave unless using gloves. Whilst generally, our stoneware high-fired glazes are food and dishwasher-safe, they may retain heat to such an extent that if used in the microwave, they may be too hot to handle.
Need help?
Contact us at [email protected] for questions related to refunds and returns.