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A quick pic of a great day – full of fun and comedy and a great learning experience!

We are getting used to a constant string of stories in the press about the lack of communication skills in many young people, school leavers, graduates etc. (True Grit) At Prep4 we work with young people of various ages using drama and vocal techniques to build confidence, and develop communication skills.

This week we are pleased to welcome comedian Lee Cornes as a guest workshop leader for our Comedy class. Lee will introduce the class to the wonderful world of comedy, using a variety of techniques ranging from mime and masks to improvisation and how to master comic timing. As well as learning the comedy basics, class members will learn some simple techniques that will help them connect with any “audience” in a variety of everyday situations. By the end of a day at Lee’s comedy class each young person will feel more confident and at ease whenever they engage in direct communication, whether in a performance or in any other situation.
In an article in The Times in 2010, comedian Sean Locke cites Lee as a major influnece “.. he was compere at the Comedy Store. He’s the comedian’s comedian.”

Do visit Amazon and order if you want to beat the rush!

Some intesting thoughts on the importance of soft skills by Canon Alan Blillings director of the Centre for Ethics and Religion at Lancaster University. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01g7yff

Articles in the Daily Telegraph and Evening Standard both comment on a warning given in a newsletter from The Good Schools Guide warning that constant parental pressure to succeed creates a gereration who will not pursue new challenges for fear of failing. The Good Schools Guide Newsletter suggests “Somewhere around year nine, just as children start to assert their own independence, attentive parenting can mutate into undue pressure.” Parents are also strongly advised to step back and allow children to make their own subject choices at GCSE and beyond.

Oxford High School for Girls is reported to be preparing a maths test where it is impossible to get 100% to prevent students becoming obsessed with being “Little Miss Perfect”, while Wimbledon High School runs a “failure week” to teach pupils to build resilience. When preparing pupils to go out and face the world it is important to stress to young people that there is no straight ladder to success – no matter how many A* grades you may have. In fact these days, on the Snakes and Ladders board of life, there are a lot more snakes to slide down than there used to be.

At Prep4 we look on this as a challenge and an integral part of the preparation for the new world which we offer to young people who can find themselves rudderless at key points in their developing lives. Our individual mentoring sessions have helped to turn round the career prospects of some candidates who had lost all sense of direction. Part of our process is to help the young people to understand that the whole concept of career success or failure as an absolute is fast being replaced by a newer model, part of which is, as it is sometimes dubbed ‘the portfolio career’. More on this in a future blog soon.

Victoria is delighted to have now signed the contract with John Catt Educational who will be publishing Prepare your Daughter for Boarding.
The book is scheduled for publication in late September with illustrations by well-known artist Martin Millard.
Victoria is now pushing forward with the International edition, designed to serve the needs of the many students who come to school in the UK. Prepare for Boarding in the UK (working title) is co-written with Jennifer Ma, Director of Arch Academy, one of leading learning centres in Hong Kong.

The comments made by Nick Hurd (Minister for Civil Society…??) suggest that something is going wrong at school – pupils are not being stretched and challenged and are lacking in “grit…at a critical time in their lives to prepare them for work”. Maybe it’s not all about A – C grades in Maths and English. According to the CBI, employability now means developing skills beyond literacy and numeracy: they cite people skills, self-reliance, teamwork, resilience, and the ability to communicate well. These are the so-called soft skills that are increasingly important in the modern workplace. In recent survey of employers more than 60% said that they did not feel school or college leavers are developing the self-management skills they need for work.
Many young people, not in the top stream academically, or lacking the ability to excel in other areas like music or sport, will find it hard to project the confidence and communication skills to convince an employer or university of their talents. So many schools (of all types) now obsess over increasing their grades, and so their standing in league tables, that little time is left to help their students to improve their vital personal skills. Arecen
At Prep4 we are asked more and more to help put this right with individual coaching and with a range of confidence building workshops. A Gallup survey taken only this week in the US showed 80% of parents think “soft skills” should be taught in schools.
For more information on how we can help build your child’s interpersonal skills and confidence (plus develop a bit more grit!) email: victoria@prep4online.com

We have just put together some dates for our autumn workshops.

Autumn and Winter Drama and Public Speaking Workshops 2013 (Sussex)

An exciting range of courses run by the Prep4 directors Graham Lee, Victoria Davies Jones and Pippa Cross. Some workshops also include visiting specialists. We usually take a maximum of fifteen students per session. The workshops below are suitable for ages 11 – 14.
Venue: The Old Rectory, Folkington, East Sussex, BN26 5SD
For further details contact us on 07870 800914 or victoria@prep4online.com

Introduction to Comedy: Sunday 29 September 10am – 6pm
Comedian Lee Cornes will work with students on a variety of techniques to develop comedy performance including an introduction to ‘stand-up’, physical comedy, acting and comic timing. The workshop will culminate in a short performance of sketches. £65 (inc. lunch)

Play in a Day: Monday 21 October 10am – 6pm
Students will first work with film producer Pippa Cross to devise/select short pieces, and then choreographer and voice coach, Alison Fielding will work intensively with the aspiring actors to develop characters and movement skills and to improve voice projection. Students will prepare for a short performance. £65 (inc. lunch)

Make the Right Impression at 11/13+: Wednesday 23 October 10am – 5pm
A workshop designed to help students applying to senior schools, with an emphasis on how to impress at first meetings and interview. Students will learn about body language, overcoming nerves and communicating with confidence. Suitable for all candidates, including scholars. The session will include individual practice interviews with oral and written feedback. £60 (inc. lunch)

Speaking in public: Sunday 24 November 10 am – 5pm
A day of presentation training to improve confidence when speaking in public – in class and assemblies etc. Students will be taught voice projection, how to present their opinions effectively and how to banish the “likes” “ums” and “ers”. The day will culminate in a presentation to parents. £60 (inc. lunch)

• GRAHAM LEE is visiting drama and communications specialist at Benenden School. He worked with Theatre Centre and has spent many years coaching children and adults.
• VICTORIA DAVIES JONES is an ex BBC reporter/producer and now teaches communication and presentation skills. She runs the Prep4 interview technique and Oxbridge programmes.
• PIPPA CROSS is a film producer whose latest film, Summer in February was released in June. Other credits include BAFTA nominated Shooting Dogs and Longitude, and teen hit Chalet Girl.
• ALISON FIELDING is an actress and movement coach. She is a member of the Guildhall Drama School auditioning panel.
• LEE CORNES is a comedian and writer whose comedy work includes Blackadder and Mr Bean. Acting credits include Mr Hankin in TV series Grange Hill and Trickster in Dr Who.

Prep4′s 2013 Shakespeare workshop was last week was a great success. Our three aims: developing new drama skills; teaching our group to understand, perform and enjoy Shakespeare, and most of all giving everyone a great fun week, were all achieved 100%. The youngsters put on a terrific performance for family and friends at twilight on last Friday evening, the cast astonishing them with a word perfect and otherwise faultless performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here are some moments to share from our week.

Alison Fielding’s voice movement workshop.

The Mechanicals                                                Practicing voice projection

Mrs Candin’s lovely donkey’s head

This week saw the first of Prep4’s programme of workshops.  An enthusiastic group of young people enjoyed the first two days of creative drama working to prepare  a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream,  assisted by a dedicated team of tutors.

Film producer Pippa Cross joined course tutors Graham Lee and Victoria Davies Jones at our first script read through.

In wonderful summer sunshine, and in a beautiful garden location the cast work on their lines.

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Homemade lemonade and delicious lunches keep the energy levels high.

Lots still to look forward to before our gala performance on Friday night.

On Wednesday Alison Fielding, voice and movement specialist gave a fun and very useful voice workshop.

Alison gives some useful movement advice to the performers.