Some of my best memories of Arts in school was when we had the chance to try ceramics. There’s something about the tactile feel of working with clay that really engages students. You will often notice the otherwise loud and chaotic class become silent as they focus as hard on their creations. There really is something hypnotic about it!
SEN students are often especially engaged when working with clay, as the tactile, hands-on process provides a calm, focused activity. It can be a powerful way to build confidence, encourage creativity, and develop fine motor skills in a supportive environment.
Air-drying clay can be a good intro, but you never quite get the results that you hope for with this kind of clay. Getting a proper kiln for schools to fire a wide range of clays and glazes is a big step for a school, but one that we think is 100% worth it (if you are lucky enough to get the funding).
There are a lot of considerations to take into account. In this article we will answer the following topics:
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Practical Considerations and Safety for Kilns in Schools
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Choosing a school kiln for your classroom
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How much does it cost to run a classroom kiln?
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Installation of a pottery kiln for schools
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Making a Compelling Argument to Leadership for Funding for a Kiln in Your School
Practical Considerations and Safety for Kilns in Schools
1) Space & Location
Have a dedicated area for the kiln. It’s important that students are not able to access the school kiln without supervision. There are two options for this: either have your kiln in a separate locked room, or have it inside a kiln cage. A kiln cage is essentially a closed-off wire cage around the kiln that requires a key to open it. This is often the way that schools do it, as there is not always space for a dedicated room. If you require a custom kiln cage, we may be able to supply this for you – just drop us an email!
Some of our kilns come with wheels, so you may be able to lock the kiln away in a cupboard when not in use to wheel it out when there are no students around.
The kiln will need 30cm clearance from walls, and be in a location where no paper or other clutter can blow onto it.
Ground floor rooms are preferred, as this makes delivery and servicing considerably easier.
2) Ventilation & Fume Management
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Provide adequate ventilation in line with HSE expectations; kilns give off heat and firing by-products.
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It’s recommended to not be in the kiln room for extended periods while it’s firing.
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Prioritise a downdraft/ducted vent that draws from the kiln base to outside; reduces fumes and helps
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even out top-to-bottom temperature.
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If using a canopy hood, ensure correct capture area and make-up air—don’t rely on open windows alone.
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Record ventilation specifications in your risk assessment and post operating instructions nearby.
We have a page on ventilation, although this is aimed at the private user. You will have to be more stringent on fume management for kilns in schools.
3) Fire Safety, Clearances, and Night Firing
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Maintain manufacturer-stated clearances (usually 30cm) from walls/ceilings; historic incidents often involved overheated timber above kilns.
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Keep flues/ducts and hot surfaces clear of building fabric; add heat shielding if clearances are tight.
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Agree a school policy on unattended/night firings (e.g., start early, finish before close; or monitored weekend cycles).
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Install CO/smoke/heat detection appropriate to the space; ensure extinguishers are accessible (and staff trained).
4) Electrical Supply & Controls
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Confirm the building’s supply early: single-phase 230–240 V vs three-phase (and, in some schools, 208 V/480 V specs).
You will need to make sure that the kiln for schools you are buying will work with your electrical setup. You can check the electrical specifications on the kiln online and ask your electrician/grounds team.
You will need an electrician to install the kiln. This is usually wired into an isolated circuit with an isolator switch to turn the kiln on and off, although this can be done with a commando plug that you can simply unplug to cut the power to the kiln. Let us know which option suits you, and we can provide the kiln with the correct adaptors.
5) Sizing, Capacity & Throughput Planning
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Common classroom size ≈ 200 Litres (often fits ~3–4 classes per firing).
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Bigger kiln = fewer load/unload cycles, but longer turnaround and more work-in-progress storage; risk of bottlenecks.
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Smaller or second school kiln can speed cycles and separate clay/glaze or earthenware/stoneware programmes.
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Map your term plan: number of classes × pieces per student × bisque + glaze firings = weekly firing schedule.
6) Workflow, Storage & Handling
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Provide sturdy, ventilated shelving for drying greenware and for glazed pieces awaiting firing.
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Use clearly labelled ware boards per class; create a loading queue system to avoid mix-ups.
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Protect lids/bricks—no stacking boxes on kiln lids (a frequent cause of damage in shared rooms).
9) Maintenance Cadence (light touch plan)
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Keep a firing/maintenance log (date, cone/°C, notes, any faults).
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Vacuum kiln gently (cold) to remove debris; keep shelves kiln-washed.
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Inspect elements/relays/thermocouples termly; schedule professional service annually.
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Replace door/lid seals and shelves as needed; teach students not to contaminate shelves with glaze runs.
Choosing the Best Type of Kiln for Schools (you write this section)
Subheadings & prompts only:
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Electric vs Gas vs Wood-Fired
Electric kilns are by far the most popular kilns in education situations. They are much cheaper and easier to run, with more consistent results. -
Top-loader vs front-loader
For schools, front-loading kilns are the standard. Being able to view all of the shelves at once is much more useful in a classroom setting, and is much easier to load and organise.
Our recommendation for a school pottery kiln would be the Falcon range from Kilns & Furnaces. They are really reliable machines, and are found in many schools around the country.
The main decision you will have to make is the size of the kiln you need. There is no easy answer for this, as it’s difficult to gauge the usage that you will have.
A 200 Litre kiln can fit roughly 30 medium pieces per firing (mug sized).
If you know what sizes the pieces you are going to make are, you could do the following:
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Check the kiln’s internal width + depth + height
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Check how many shelves you could fit within the height to allow for the height of your pieces
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Check how many of your pieces could fit on a shelf with enough clearance
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Multiply steps 2 × 3
Cost & Budgeting
Upfront Costs
The main expense is the kiln itself, but schools should also budget for the controller, venting system, kiln furniture (shelves, props, stilts, kiln wash), and delivery. For a medium-sized classroom kiln (~7 ft³ / 200 L), the total package often falls in the range of £3,000–£6,000, depending on brand and features.
Installation Costs
Professional installation is essential. This may include electrical upgrades (dedicated circuit, breaker, cabling), ducting or downdraft ventilation, and commissioning by a qualified engineer. Depending on your building’s setup, expect £500–£1,500 for installation and compliance work.
Running Costs
Each firing uses electricity, with consumption varying by load size and cone level. A full bisque firing in a 7 ft³ electric kiln typically costs £6–£10, while a glaze firing is slightly higher at £8–£12. Ventilation adds a small amount (pennies per hour). Over a school year, with 1–2 firings per week, running costs might total £400–£800.
Maintenance & Consumables
Kilns are long-lived (15–20 years), but some parts are consumables. Elements and relays may need replacing every 3–5 years depending on use, costing £150–£300. Thermocouples wear out too, usually £40–£60 each. Shelves, props, and kiln wash need regular upkeep or replacement; budget £100–£200 annually for routine consumables.
Funding Routes
If capital budgets are tight, schools often secure support via PTA fundraising, local arts charities, educational grants, or community partnerships. Because finished student work is tangible and displayable, kilns in schools are appealing to parents and donors.
20-Year View
Spread over two decades, even a £5,000 kiln package costs only £250 per year. With 90 students using it annually, that’s less than £3 per student, per year for access to ceramics. As cohorts grow, the per-pupil cost drops further. This long-term value is often the most persuasive argument for leadership teams weighing the initial outlay.
Installation of Your School’s Kiln
It’s a good idea to get together information on your school’s power supply, ventilation, delivery route, and space.
We do offer an installation service of kilns. We try to keep the costs down as much as we can, but this can be quite expensive, so it’s worth getting some prices locally for this. The large sizes are extremely heavy, so you will need a plan for how you are going to site the kiln into place.
Convincing School Leadership (The hard part)
Clay has a unique effect in the classroom. Even the noisiest groups often fall quiet when working with it — there’s a natural focus that comes from shaping something with your hands. For many students, especially those who struggle elsewhere or SEN pupils, this can be a rare moment of calm and concentration. The sense of pride when they see their work fired and finished is powerful, and it often builds lasting confidence.
But the case for a kiln goes beyond engagement. Firing work connects directly to the curriculum:
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Science & maths come alive through the chemistry of glazes, thermal change, and ratios in mixing.
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Design & technology links are obvious in planning, problem-solving, and turning sketches into durable 3D objects.
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History & culture can be explored through recreating ancient pottery and discussing its role in civilisation.
A kiln also makes the timetable smoother. With a clear firing plan (bisque then glaze) and the right capacity, projects move steadily without bottlenecks or end-of-term pile-ups. Modern, computer-controlled kilns for schools are consistent, safe, and designed for education, with ventilation and safety checks in place.
To strengthen your case:
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Show outcomes – bring in a few example pieces (bisque, glazed, and test tiles) so leaders can see the difference between air-dry and fired clay.
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Present a simple plan – outline how many classes, how many firings per term, and where the kiln will sit safely.
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Address safety up front – provide a draft risk assessment, staff training plan, and servicing schedule.
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Highlight value for money – a kiln lasts 15–20 years; spread across students, the cost per year is low and predictable.
Finally, involve parents. When they see finished work on display, they quickly become strong advocates. Linking with local studios or using student pieces in community events can also show wider benefit.
A school pottery kiln isn’t just another piece of kit — it’s the step that makes clay real, permanent, and memorable for students. With a practical plan and clear safety measures, it’s a resource that will serve the school for decades.