School Objectives
To increase confidence and to raise literary and presentation skills in disengaged Year 10 pupils.
Workshops
Tutors delivered a series of participatory workshops which focused on young people learning comedy improvisation and writing skills. Young people were supported to develop their own short comedy story which they then had the option perform. Emphasis was placed on exploring comedy texts to encourage reading. Young People were encouraged to make decisions about what the final performance would showcase, who would be invited, how this would be described to other pupils and teachers. Activities were tailored to meet the needs of the participants and to improve their self-esteem week by week.
Outcomes
All the participants took part in a final showcase performance to a small audience of invited students and teachers. All of the young people commented on feeling more confident after this and felt a real sense of achievement. Teachers also commented on increased attendance levels in other lessons as a result of the programme.
"I thought that none of us would have been able to do this but youhelped to make us more confident. Thank you.'
Pupil, Philips High School
"The fact that every member of the group was willing to perform infront of an audience by the end of the course proves the developmentmade since the beginning of the course, when many students were too shy to speak in front of the group.''
Teacher, Phillips High School
"It was a fantastic course and an opportunity for pupils of all abilities to interact in a non-academic environment, whilst learning about each other and themselves.''
Teacher, Philips High School
