TERMS & CONDITIONS

Hempmill pottery classes policy

All Courses

When you book on any of our courses or attend a workshop you agree to adhere to our code of conduct and abide by our Terms and Conditions. It is your responsibility to inform us of any special requirements, intolerances or allergies before you book.

We reserve the right to cancel or change the date of a course if it is necessary, or if it is impractical for the course to run, as well as the right to change the tutor or content of a course without notice.

Health & safety

Use of the studio and equipment is at your own risk; please listen to any instructions from your tutor and ask if you are not sure about anything. Potential hazards include moving machinery, sharp tools, hot surfaces, toxic chemicals and ceramic dust.

Please dress appropriately in comfortable clothes and practical shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Jewellery & watches should be removed before class, long hair tied back and sleeves rolled up. Protect your clothing with an apron and a throwing towel.

Smoking/vaping is not permitted in the studio.

Cleaning

All students are requested to spend the last 20 minutes of each lesson cleaning up their workstation and the communal areas of the studio such as sinks & floors. Clay and glaze dusts are toxic, and it is in everyone’s interests to make sure all areas are thoroughly cleaned. Please note:

  • Wheel trays and batts should be washed and returned to the wheel that they came from. All Hempmill tools should be washed and returned to the storage boxes or jars. 
  • Please bring your own throwing towels and aprons. 
  • Please ensure that you bring your own tools (this does not apply to taster days). We have a wide range of tools for you to purchase, and specialist tools and brushes will be made available for specific projects. Please ensure your tools are labelled clearly with your name / initials.
  • Please check your toolboxes at the end of each lesson for any stray Hempmill tools.
  • Please use the bucket system to wash down wheels and tools as instructed by the tutor.
  • Please wipe up spillages when they occur. 
  • Please use the clay reclamation systems as instructed by the tutor.
  • Please be mindful of resources and power usage including hot water.

Code of conduct

These Terms & Conditionss reflect the relatively small size of Hempmill Pottery & Cookery School and the friendly, informal atmosphere that we have created. Any person who is deemed to be disruptive or abusive to staff or students will be asked to leave and their class bookings and fees forfeit. We are committed to a respectful and inclusive environment.

Masterclasses only

Payment

30% deposit (non-refundable) is required to secure your place or payment in full. 

Balance of payment is due 60 days before the class. Please contact us if you would prefer to pay in instalments and we will do our best to help.

Cancellation policy for attendees

30 or more days before:

Full refund (minus 30% deposit) or named transfer to another attendee of similar skill level.

0–30 days before:
A refund will be issued only if your place can be resold (minus 30% deposit). Named transfer to a person of similar skill level permitted.

Cancellation policy for Hempmill

In the case of participant illness or emergencies we will consider a transfer to an alternative class or partial refund.

In the rare case that we (Hempmill) need to cancel a masterclass we will offer an alternative date or refund. We will not accept liability for travel/accommodation costs. We reserve the right to provide a substitute tutor in case of illness of /injury to the advertised tutor.

Weekly Classes only

Payment

Full payment is required two weeks in advance of the start of the course to secure your place.

Labelling work

Any work that is not clearly labelled with the student’s name or initials at all stages of the making process will not be wrapped or fired and may be disposed of if it cannot be identified.

Firing sheets

Each student is required to fill in a firing sheet at the end of each block to assist us in monitoring their firing allowances.

Firing allowances per block

The fee for each six week block includes 20 cubic litres of glaze kiln firing space, either gas or electric, as well as all clay and glaze materials within reason. This allowance may only be carried over to the following block with explicit prior agreement of the tutor, and never beyond that. Work will be fired as soon as full kiln loads are ready as it is not economical to fire partial kiln loads.

Firing tariffs: over allowance

Any work that exceeds the standard 20 litres per 6 weeks will be charged at a rate of £2/cubic litre/glaze firing. This charge will be payable prior to biscuit firing. Any work made or finished outside the studio will be subject to charges of £3/cubic litre/glaze firing.

Homeworking

We ask that work in progress in class is not taken home unless there is an exceptional reason to do so; this leads to breakages and the removal of studio equipment such as boards and mats. We encourage students to enjoy their time within the studio environment rather than rushing work through to try and make up a quota.

Any work that is completed or worked on outside of the Hempmill studio will be subject to extra firing charges if it exceeds the student’s allowance. Bringing work from home to be fired must be agreed in advance with the tutor and will be subject to the £3/cl firing tariff.

Making up lessons

We include some flexibility in our policies to allow for the fact that students have busy lives and occasionally may have to miss a lesson due to circumstances beyond their control.

If a student has to miss a class due to illness etc. they have the opportunity to make up the class during another session if there are any spaces available. If there are no spaces available the class is lost: any missed classes may not be carried over to the next block and no refunds will be issued. This concession is entirely at the discretion of the management.