15 May 2009

Dear Colleague,

‘EXCHANGE TEACHER’ SCHEME

I hope that you will be able to find a minute in your busy schedule to read the enclosed documents and find out how you can apply to become the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Exchange Teacher. This pilot scheme, in which the selected teacher is on attachment to the Royal Exchange Education

Department, offers teachers a unique professional development opportunity. The Exchange Teacher does not need to be a Drama or an English specialist, but can come from any

discipline and may be a class teacher working with children of any age. Please feel free to pass this information onto colleagues across the school.

For further details of this scheme please see the enclosed

‘Exchange Teacher Guidelines’

To apply, please complete and return the enclosed application form to Kate Reynolds (Education Administrator) by Friday 12 June 2009. Copies of the application pack can also be downloaded

from the theatre website at www.royalexchange.co.uk. Should you require any further information about this scheme or about the work of the Education

department at the Royal Exchange Theatre, please do not hesitate to contact me on 0161 615 6721.

I look forward to hearing from you. With best wishes,

Kate Reynolds Education Administrator

1. What is the Exchange Teacher Scheme?

A pilot scheme in which one selected teacher is on attachment to the Royal Exchange Education Department, and a member of the Royal Exchange Education team is on attachment to a school.

2. How Does It Work?

The Exchange will begin in September 2009, and will run for one school year, i.e. until July 2010. Over this academic year, a practitioner from the Royal Exchange Theatre will spend 5 days (or equivalent) in your school leading a series of workshops, and the teacher will spend 9 days based at the Royal Exchange Theatre, working with the Education team.

3. What are the benefits for the teacher / school

In addition to the above, the scheme will aim to give our partner teacher:

• Knowledge of the workings of the Education Department • Awareness of the creative approaches theatres use when working with schools • An insight into the production processes in a theatre • The opportunity to explore how theatre works as a business • Refreshment! A good chance to get out of the classroom and see ways of working that relate

to teaching, but are different from it

• The opportunity to co-deliver workshops and develop new strategies for use in school • The opportunity to explore alternative approaches to delivering the curriculum and to develop

new, related, skills

• The opportunity to contribute to – and be credited with – the production of resources for use with schools

• Professional Development The scheme will also offer the teacher’s school 50 free tickets for Royal Exchange productions, to be used over the course of the year.

4. What are the benefits for the Royal Exchange?

The Theatre’s Education Department will benefit from:

• Specialist school-related knowledge (e.g. curricula, schemes of work etc) • Further insights into the workings of schools • Support in the delivery of elements of the education programme • Help with the writing and development of resources • The opportunity to explore and develop creative approaches to team-teaching

5. What level of commitment would be required from the teacher and school?

• A minimum of 9 days release for the Exchange Teacher over 1 year (3 days each term)

EXCHANGE TEACHER SCHEME Academic year 2009/10

PLEASE TURN OVER

6. Who can apply? This is the first year of a two year pilot programme. From September 2009 – July 2010, the scheme will be open to applications from state schools within the following five AGMA districts: Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Tameside and Trafford. Priority will be given to schools in areas of socio economic disadvantage and or / working with young people who may not usually access theatre. Only one application per school or college will be considered.

7. What is the Application and Selection process?

Applicants are asked to complete the form enclosed with these guidelines, and to return it to: Kate Reynolds (Education Department), Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester M2 7DH by Friday 12 June 2009. During the selection process Royal Exchange Theatre will consider the following:

• How you and your school/college propose to maximise the benefits of a partnership with the Royal Exchange Theatre.

• Where, in terms of drama/theatre, you are now and where you would aim to be at the end of the partnership (i.e. the opportunities the partnership would provide for professional growth and development).

• The extent to which the partnership would offer new and otherwise unavailable experiences to pupils/students, to the school and to the Exchange Teacher.

Applications will be considered by the Royal Exchange Theatre. Where appropriate, LEA / Children’s Services advisers may also be consulted. We may come back to you for clarification or further information, before a final decision is reached. In order for the Teacher Exchange Scheme to be as successful as possible, it is important that all applicants are aware of and agree to the following commitments: • All applicants need to include the contact details for their school’s Head Teacher, from whom

we will request a reference and written confirmation of the school’s support. • Applicants may be asked to visit the Theatre for an informal chat as part of the selection

process.

• The Exchange Teacher will be the lead contact for the school, and responsible for co-ordinating all arrangements re. visits and ticket requests.

If you are selected, the Royal Exchange Theatre may use information about the exchange in its publicity material, and will hold a copy of your details on computer, for internal use. We may provide copies of this information, in confidence, to individuals or organisations who are sponsoring or otherwise supporting the scheme.

8. When will I hear if I have been selected? The deadline for applications is Friday 12 June 2009. All applicants, successful and unsuccessful, will be notified in writing by Friday 26 June 2009.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please telephone Kate Reynolds on 0161 615 6721.

It is important that you read the guidelines enclosed with this form before completing it.

Please write clearly.

CONTACT DETAILS

Teacher Name:

Teacher Position:

School Name:

School Address, including postcode:

School Telephone:

School Fax:

Lead Teacher Email:

SCHOOL DETAILS

LEA / District:

Number on Roll:

% of pupils eligible for free school meals:

Any other socio-economic indicators:

Any additional information (e.g. special needs):

DRAMA PROVISION

Is Drama taught in your school as: a timetabled subject an extra-curricular activity?

neither other

If OTHER, please give details:

EXCHANGE TEACHER SCHEME (2009/10)

APPLICATION FORM

REASONS FOR APPLYING

Please answer the following questions; you may wish to attach a second sheet of paper. (a) Why would you like to be considered for this scheme? (b) How would being the Exchange Teacher support your own professional development? (c) What benefits / developments would you expect to see in your school as a result of this link

with the Royal Exchange Theatre?

REFEREE DETAILS

In support of your application, please provide us with the contact details for your Head Teacher,

from whom we will require a written reference in support of your application.

Name:

Contact Details (Telephone / Email):

The deadline for applications is Friday 12 June 2009. All applicants will be

notified by Friday 26 June.

Please complete this application form and return to: Kate Reynolds, Education Department, Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester M2 7DH. If you have any questions concerning details of the Schools Partnership Scheme or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Kate on 0161 615 6721.