Manchester Alexander Technique
Training School
Est. 2001
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
MATTS offers a special opportunity for professional development each week, where teachers of all levels of experience can meet and work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Classes are on Thursdays, 9.00 am to 1.00 pm during term time. All teachers are welcome to come without notice and to arrive and depart at the time of their choosing. This class (and all MATTS classes) are free to teachers. Teachers who feel that they need further training or a refresher also have the option to attend as a postgraduate student.
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Our Thursday Classes are an opportunity to:
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Exchange work
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Receive turns from senior teachers
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Take part in hands-on groups with senior teachers
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Attend talks and tutorials relevant to professional development such as building a practice, teaching groups, educational techniques, reflective practice and ethics and the STAT codes of practice.
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Participate in special events, such as visits by notable teachers (see below)
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Meet STAT Teaching Members' CPD requirements (scroll to bottom of page for more details)
Our classes are friendly and welcoming. Visitors can expect lots of 'turns' (if they would like them) and opportunities to refine their skills, as well as a lovely tea!
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The Thursday Classes are an important A.T. resource in the wider region, with many teachers travelling long distances to attend.
In addition to our own teachers, we also host "special events" where notable teachers visit us from elsewhere and lead our class for the morning.
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Last term (summer 2024) we we were visited by several very senior teachers, including John Nicholls (who led our classes for a week) Dorothea Magonet and John Hunter. We also had a series of short talks on 'the ethics of teaching'. Advance notice of special events is posted on our 'News' page (log-in required, one minute to sign in).
Working with our students
Because all of our classes are part of our training course for teachers, visiting teachers are encouraged (but definitely not required) to spend some of their time giving turns to trainee teachers and visiting students. The proportion of each visit devoted to working with students is entirely at each teacher's own discretion. However, we do ask that regular visitors take some care to see that their work is evenly distributed (over time) amongst the students so that no one feels left out. Keeping a written list is one possible way to approach this.
More information about CPD
"Professional Development for Teachers of the Alexander Technique is based on the recognition that a single course of training is not enough by itself to maintain high standards of practice throughout one’s career. STAT teaching members therefore need to engage in continuing professional development so as to broaden their understanding and application of the Alexander Technique, to develop their skills and to stay abreast with developments germane to their professional practice. This development is part of the Technique." Source: STAT 2021
"STAT requires a minimum of 20 hours of CPD activities per year (many members will regularly undertake significantly more than this) and if you joined STAT on or after July 2017 you are now required to keep an annual CPD record."
Source: STAT CPD Guidelines