I am very proud to be an official Support Centre for the Mid Cornwall School of Jewellery Silver Metal Clay Diploma Home Study programme. The Home Study Diploma allows students study at their own pace and at a time that suits them. This means they can fit it around their own commitments and is especially suitable for those who cannot travel to Cornwall to study at MCSJ.
The MCSJ Diploma is widely acknowledged as the most thorough and comprehensive metal clay qualification in the world. It is independent and brand neutral so students learn to work with all types of silver metal clay and it also includes traditional silverwork skills. The three hands-on grades take the student from basic skills to advanced techniques and the fourth grade has two options; Design and Construction or Teaching Metal Clay Effectively.
A commitment to high standards of workmanship is rigorously applied making the MCSJ Diploma the foremost qualification for those serious about developing as metal clay artists.
The Silver Metal Clay Home Study Grade 1 pack is available to buy from the MCSJ website now, http://www.mcsj.co.uk/home-study-metal-clay-diploma/home-study-diploma.html. Further grades will be available in 2012. The Grade 1 pack contains two instructional DVDs, a CD of resources and project notes and all materials. Completed projects are submitted to MCSJ for evaluation and students get detailed feedback on their work. When all seven projects pass, the student is awarded the Grade 1 Certificate.
There is a network of official Diploma Support Centres around the UK and also in Greece, Austria, Ireland and Germany. Diploma Support Centres offer a range of services to support students undertaking the Home Study Diploma. These include kiln firing services – for which there is a free voucher in the Home Study pack – and open studio opportunities for students to use tools and equipment for a small fee.
Diploma Support Centres are staffed by qualified MCSJ Silver Metal Clay Diploma holders who have completed the teacher training module. They are committed to high standards of service and teaching and provide classes and workshops which give Home Study students further support if required. Home Study Diploma students can choose to purchase additional classes run by official Support Centres which have been specially developed to support the Diploma curriculum.
Students can also purchase a one-to-one critique session with an experienced metal clay teacher who will check their projects before they are submitted to MCSJ for evaluation. These teachers know exactly the standard MCSJ evaluators expect so this session can really help students to pass the evaluations first time.
