BAC’s award-winning Schools’ Programme connects the UK’s most visionary artists with thousands of young people every year in a wide range of collaborative projects. We work in close partnership with teachers, local borough councils and artists to provide imaginative and inspiring creative opportunities for Secondary schools. The programmes below are available for Summer term and the 2011/12 academic year. All projects are flexible and can be tailored to individual class needs, each is individually priced with details available on request, and some subsidised projects are available.

1) Artist Teacher Exchange

The Artist Teacher Exchange programme offers the opportunity for teachers and artists to come together for a unique programme of collaborative training. Participants experience a range of workshops and masterclasses from education and arts specialists and are partnered together to create collaborative creative projects in the classroom. The programme offers teachers and artists the time and space to learn from each others’ methods; exchanging skills, ideas and processes. Artist Teacher Exchange is open to artists and primary and secondary teachers of all subjects and specialisms and applications for 2011/12 will open in the summer term.

For updates and enrolment details email schools@bac.org.uk

‘I am so much more confi dent when doing drama activities. I have become more open and explorative in my teaching… The whole experience was amazing. I think the project was well run and organised and thoroughly worthwhile. Please keep up the brilliant work!’ Participant Teacher, Artist Teacher Exchange 2010/11

2) INSET Days

We offer bespoke training provision for teachers both in school and at BAC led by BAC artists. Previous INSET sessions have included: puppetry, physical theatre, devising, Home Sweet Home (creating a community through craft and play), music within drama. We are pleased to be able to meet your training requirements with a range of INSET programmes.

Please email schools@bac.org.uk for more information.

3) Homegrown Taster Workshops

Each year hundreds of young people from across Wandsworth and beyond participate in making theatre at BAC through our Homegrown programme for 12-25 year olds. Our Homegrown Taster Workshops bring professional theatre-makers and local young people together in schools for energetic and creative workshops in a wide-range of artforms, including theatre, music, beatboxing and dance. We can offer bespoke sessions tailored for different year groups as one-offs or longer experiences.

For more information please contact homegrown@bac.org.uk

4) START

The START programme is designed to enable students to learn from pioneering artists, watch high quality contemporary theatre and to feel at home at BAC. Participants engage in workshops from artists to introduce classes’ to themes and ideas from shows and the company’s approach to devising them, in our main theatre programme, then come to BAC to experience performances, feedback discussions with artists and opportunities to meet the performers and BAC staff.

For more information about being part of the START programme please contact start@bac.org.uk

‘I learnt that anybody can go to the theatre. It’s not about your status in life. It’s about if you would like to go and watch, not if you can.’
Pupil, Battersea Park School

5) Bespoke Workshops

We offer bespoke artist-led workshop in schools to accompany group visits to BAC. If you’re booking for your students to see a show in our theatre programme, we can design a workshop to introduce classes to the work, its context and themes. Previous workshops have covered artforms including puppetry, physical theatre and animation.

For more information on creating your bespoke workshop contact schools@bac.org.uk

6) BAC behind the scenes tour and meet the teams

These behind the scenes tours offer Secondary School groups the chance to peek behind the scenes at BAC and get an exclusive sense of the workings of the theatre. We can also offer special ‘meet the teams’ Q & A sessions alongside these tours to give young people an insight into careers in the arts and progression routes in areas such as producing, technical and marketing.

For more information on arranging your session please get in touch with schools@bac.org.uk

‘Thank you to everyone involved it was a fantastic experience. I am now considering a career in theatre design’ Pupil, Southfields Community College.