Let's start with Dance...

Following on from the update sent out last month (17/7/14) about developments at the Institute for Learning (IfL) Trinity has now received confirmation from IfL that the organisation will be closing in the autumn of 2014 with many of its functions being transferred to the Education and Training Foundation (ETF).

We have been pleased to learn that the legacy of professional formation and application for QTLS (which is protected by law) is being transferred to ETF. DDTAL (Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning) graduates will be able to continue to apply for this process. The IfL is working hard to ensure that there is no disruption in the application process and has confirmed that:

“For those members [of IfL] currently working towards [professional formation] deadlines in the summer and winter of 2014, all those application will be reviewed as planned so that they will receive notification of the outcome of their application as planned in either August or December, depending on the cycle in which they have registered.”

We have been assured that further information about the transfer of services from IfL to ETF will be sent to us as soon as they have been confirmed. However, in the meantime, we are delighted to have received assurances that applications for QTLS will remain open. 

Please post a comment below should you want to ask anything further regarding this.

Reforms and change update

Preparing for the 2015 General Election and the manifesto's that are out there? Read this summary from the Cultural Learning Alliance.  

GCSE and Alevel reforms for the Arts are well underway also and the Cultural Learning Alliance have put together a summary regarding those processes too which you can read here. I have been lucky enough to review elements of the subject content proposed for GCSE Drama and GCE Drama & Theatre so I look forward to seeing how the new content develops. 

Subject Associations?

As a Trinity Drama teacher are you a member of your subject association? Remember they are different to your union and they are there to support Drama teachers and theatre educators with their artform/pedagogy however you might need them.

National Drama are currently the UK's leading professional association for Drama and they work to ensure that all children and young people have the opportunity to learn through Drama. 

They have their annual AGM happening and whether you are a member or not you should attend and have your ideas and thoughts listened to. 

Happening at: Tricyle Theatre, Kilburn, London

On: Saturday 27th September 2014 from 10am until 4pm

If you want to attend please email the secretary for more information. 

How employable are your Drama students?

A question you no doubt always get asked by parents, what will a drama qualification lead? How does this help in later life? But I don't want to be an actor what else is there? Well... SCUDD (Standing Conference of University Drama Departments) put this document together which might help you when those questions crop up - once again! 

Your CPD and professional development... What is out there soon?

London Bubble in partnership with Half Moon Theatre are running "An introduction to Drama for Communication in KS1 and the Speech bubbles approach" CPD certified event too!

Taking place on: Tuesday 26th August 2014, 1pm - 4.30pm cost £48 if you are interested and would like to know more email: lucy@londonbubble.org.uk

National Theatre CPD opportunities - During October 1/2 term the NT Learning department are running a two day course on interpreting text. There latest Schools brochure recently went out to schools so I hope if you should have got one you did! 

Theatre Centre are off on tour with 'The Muddy Choir' a new play written to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

They will be touring to theatres around the UK from September 11th to November 28th, the performance is appropriate for KS3-5 pupils. It will then tour schools (that book!) during January - March 2015. You can link this performance to Arts Award too, so miss out on a double opportunity! 

I think I've given you enough there to keep you going until next month...

Holly

Teacher Training

Over June and July I've been out and about running training for our PQA (Pauline Quirke Academy) teachers, we have now trained in excess of 100 teachers and principals. I'm pleased that we already have over 30 academies up and running. If you are a Trinity Drama teacher and wish to attend training just email: dramateachers@trinitycollege.co.uk and we can add you to our list and when we have enough interest we will contact you to arrange a session. 

Adults Learners Week - Liverpool - Communicating with Confidence workshop

I travelled with the UK Language team to attend the North West Adult Learners Week event at the World Museum in Liverpool. It was really wonderful to run a workshop on Communicating with Confidence, I used script and non-verbal resources to stimulate the Adult Learners. It was great to see them enjoying learning and engaging with others - we even had newly elected MEP for the NW Julie Ward joining in! Our workshop was totally different to any of the other workshops that were on offer that day! Read more about the event here. 

Dorset School of Acting - ATCL centre leading the way! 

I wrote in an earlier blog post about Ampleforth College and the success they had with our ATCL performing by getting students into top Russell Group universities with their Level 4 qualification and now Dorset School of Acting (DSA) have done the same but with Drama school. For the last 3 years they have been running a 1 yr foundation course in Acting & Musical Theatre offering the ATCL in Drama & Speech. This year they were very successful with 50% of students gaining distinctions and several of those students have graduated with places at RADA, LAMDA, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, ALRA, Rose Bruford and East 15 with one student even gaining professional employment straight into the industry.

Well done DSA with your with 100% success rate with placing your students in recognised drama schools - the school is obviously going from strength to strength and we are so pleased that our diploma is fitting in so well with your work!

Pupil Premium Phenomenal in London Primary School

Ever wondered what a school does when they have talented pupils who simply can't afford to take our exams? Bursary? Raise money through events? Well they are both possible of course but then in an English school you may have pupil's in receipt of Pupil Premium who are able to use this additional funding. Pupil Premium is given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. Pupil premium funding is available to both mainstream and non-mainstream schools, such as special schools and pupil referral units. 

Back in April this year, Queensbridge Primary School in Hackney used some of their Pupil Premium money for enable 27 pupils to take foundation solo grade exams in Speech & Drama and Communication Skills. All of those 27 pupils passed, infact they had a 100% Distinction - Merit pass rate! 17 of them acheived a Distinction and 4 of those were awarded over 90% - what a fantastic acheivement for those young students and thank goodness for Pupil Premium!

Please do get in touch if you are a teacher that has benefitted from Pupil Premium funding to enable your students to take our exams. 

And a quick update...

Harriet Harman Consultation - Young People and the Arts - have your say, but be quick deadline to respond is tomorrow! July 17th. Trinity College London are responding, with responses from our Music, Arts Award, Artsmark and Drama departments. 

Play for the Nations Youth - Winner has been announced - Read about the success of Fiona Doyle's entry to this Playwriting development project. Watch this space to attend the performance!

Are you a London school with excellent staff CPD? - Then you must read about the quality mark your school could achieve. This has been developed by Professional Development (PD) leaders in London in partnership with the London Centre for Leadership in Learning (LCLL), Institute of Education. 

Until next time... 

...Enjoy the sunshine and those outdoor plays!

Holly

The last blog update for 2013...

CPD training During the Autumn term we ran two CPD days for our Level 4 Performing Diplomas. These events were really successful, one teacher said "The quality of this training for the cost was exceptional. I other training recently for £120 where they literally just read the books to us. I feel more valued as a teacher, and more supported in the field through the VLE." It is so positive to have feedback like this and we hope that any training that we run during 2014 will be just as appreciated. 

Helen O'Grady The last Drama teacher training session of 2013 happened on Sunday 8th December in Bolton for Helen O'Grady Principals and teachers. In total 9 teachers/principals (pictured right) were trained, they travelled from across, Cumbria and South Scotland and Lancashire. We are looking forward to all of these new academies delivering our qualifications from January 2014. Good luck Helen O'Grady North West!

Cut & Thrust - Stage Combat Ever wanted to teach stage combat as part of our 'Performance Arts' syllabus? Needing to put in a stage fight into your Macbeth scene?

Well fear not... Cut and Thrust is a Stage Combat company with over 10 years experience in delivering workshops for all ages. Recently Cut and Thrust have been helping Trinity teachers and students to create stage combat elements of exam performances. The Team at Cut and Thrust are all professionals with experience from all areas of theatre, television and film.
So if you are staging a performance, working towards an assessment or simply want to improve your skills then get in touch with Cut and Thrust.

'Keeping Drama Strong' Dialogue Conference Day This one day conference has been specifically created for Drama specialist teachers.
The event is happening on Friday 7th March 2014 at The University of Reading. National Drama are doing this in collaboration with The University of Reading (a leading university for PGCE Drama) and Trinity College London are supporting this event along with Artsmark, Arts Award, C&T and Salisbury Playhouse theatre. If you would like to go to this event please go to: www.nationaldrama.eventbrite.co.uk to read more and book your place. Prices vary from £25 - £90.

So as 2013 draws to a close (and also the end of my first year here at Trinity College London) all that is left to say is "Happy Christmas and Happy New Year"

Holly