Education

Rob leads workshops in performance poetry and spoken word, comedy, creative writing, improvisation and performance skills.

He has extensive experience of working in schools (key stages 1, 2 and 3), as well as with excluded students, gifted and talented students, adults and young people with learning difficulties, people receiving mental health treatment and members of the general public. Over the years Rob has helped people of all ages create shows, scripts, slam poetry, comedy songs and sketches, movies, raps, magazines, comic strips and lots of laughter.

Rob's workshops have an emphasis on literacy, teamwork and confidence. They can be tailored for any age or ability range and adjusted to incorporate any chosen theme or area of the curriculum.

Rob has enhanced DBS Disclosure and public liability insurance.

Here’s the mission statement:

I believe, not only that every child has a right to be heard, but also that there is a direct connection between being able to listen to each other and improvements in literacy, as well as other areas of academic achievement. Young people are more likely to acquire and develop skills when they share control of the learning process. The most successful (and enjoyable!) projects I’ve been involved in have been the ones where artist, teacher and students have all been able share their ideas and skills. I don’t believe there has to be a conflict between process and outcome, because emphasis on process makes for a stronger outcome.

Previous Projects in Education

TEENAGE SEXUAL HEALTH PROJECT
- Leicester
- 2009
- Series of sexual health/sketch comedy workshops with Year 10 students culminating in the filming and distribution of a DVD to be used as a teaching aid across the East Midlands.
BACK IN TIME SCHOOL WAS FINE
- Leicester
- 2009
- Preparation and performance of multimedia show exploring changes in education since the 19th Century. Prepared and performed with young people at risk of exclusion from school.
MELTON SPRING
- Melton Mowbray
- 2009
- Series of poetry/language workshops exploring the change in seasons with children receiving services from Mencap.
MAKE ME HAPPY
- Leicester
- 2002 - 2009
- Numerous comedy/performance poetry projects for Leicester Comedy Festival, involving workshops in primary and secondary schools across Leicestershire.
CASTLE ROCK COMEDY
- Coalville
- 2008
- Series of comedy/improvisation/literacy workshops with Key Stage 3 students identified as underachieving.
OREGON TRAIL
- Coalville
- 2008
- Replication of the Oregon settler experience with KS3 students identified as having behaviour problems.
HAPPY TO BE ME
- Leicester
- 2007/8
- Sketch comedy workshops and live show with children and teenagers experiencing social exclusion in the St Matthews area of Leicester.
DITCH THE CHIPS
- Kettering and Wellingborough
- 2007
- Updated version of project piloted in Leicester in 2005 – A series of workshops across four primary schools, exploring principles of healthy lifestyle and translating them into comedy sketches.

Creative Workshops

Performance Poetry and Spoken Word
- Rob has been leading performance poetry workshops with young people and adults for over twenty years. He's won more poetry slams than other writer in East Midlands and collected over twenty awards for his poetry shows.
Comedy - Sketch, Improv, Stand-Up, Songs
- People of all ages love comedy and in the right hands (i.e. Rob's) it can be a fantastic tool for developing literacy and teamwork skills; and nothing boosts your confidence like making an audience laugh.
Creative Writing
- With an inexhaustible repertoire of writing games and exercises, Rob can inspire reluctant and experienced writers alike, whether they're creating poetry, stories, articles, or simply venting their spleen.
Performance and Presentation Skills
- A lot of people would rather eat their own head than deliver a presentation. Rob can help! Over the years he has worked with students of fashion, design, architecture and other subjects about which he knows absolutely nothing.
Filmmaking
- Rob is in touch with a pool of highly experienced filmmakers who he regularly collaborates with to deliver school and community projects. Literacy outcomes include scripts, storyboards, persuasive posters and film reviews.

Education Sector Testiminials

Naomi Wilds
- Throughout my work with (Rob and Ben) I have been impressed with their professionalism, enthusiasm, reliability and commitment. Their unconventional approach (gives) them an added edge when working with teenagers
- Literature Development Officer, Derby City Council
Willowbrook 1
- The children have had a great time and the poetry that has come out of it has been brilliant. We had the group poems from October on display at the book café last week and lots of children came up to show their parents their poem and read it together.
- English Lead, Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy, Leicester
WM Hawkins
- Entertaining, engaging and related well to the pupils. They enjoyed his workshops and by the end of the session were certainly aware that poetry need not be dull and boring.
- Head of English, Redmoor High School, Hinckley
Mike Preston
- Excellent and just the job! My one regret is that you didn’t get to do more poetry...
- Arts & Sports Programme Manager, Regeneration East Midlands
Mark Styles
- The kids really enjoyed themselves (and the staff did too). It's been great to have you along and really valuable to know that you can rock up and just roll with whatever arrangements I throw at you!
- English Teacher, Judgemeadow Community College, Leicester
Greg McCarthy
- The Kids loved it. Fantastic outcomes!
- Teacher, Martinshaw Primary School, Groby
Allendale
- Excellent strategies on how to build ideas and then use them to create poetry.
- Teacher, Allendale Primary School, Northumberland
Claire Houlton
- Everybody loved it – the pitch was perfect!
- Drama teacher, Soar Valley College, Leicester