March, 2025

Year 10 Science students at North, with the help of a few professional potters, fired up a kiln to practice the ancient glazing technique of Raku firing.  

Raku firing is a Japanese method of creating wonderful glazes on ceramic pots in a hands-on way.

The classroom was moved outdoors as once the pottery is heated and removed from the of the kiln it is subjected to different treatments to create unusual and often quite spectacular glazing effects. 

Using a pair of tongs, students reached into a kiln to remove their ceramic pot as the glaze is melting. It is then placed in an airtight bin full of combustible materials (such as shredded paper or gum leaves) until oxygen has escaped. After the smoke has disappeared, their ceramic is then removed and placed in water to cool. Glazes are translucent and quite unique making it a truly experimental process.