The Project started by introducing the basic principles of the Alexander Technique to a group of 10 final year primary students who were specialising in Physical Education and intending to work with Key Stage 1 children. Practical workshops lasting approximately 2 hours were conducted by Grant Ragsdale. Apart from an introductory pack there was no structured lecture input so that the sessions would parallel that undertaken by anyone being instructed in the Alexander Technique in other settings.

Armed with a rudimentary knowledge of the basic principles, students then spent a week in school on a blocked teaching practice. On their return they were asked to complete a questionnaire about their observations of children's posture, the physical environment, the class routines and particular 'postural' instructions the teachers used such as 'Sit up straight'.

 

Sue Merry ran a three hour workshop for the students towards the end of the course. She found that after the seven sessions of instruction they had had, they were able to make sense of the ideas she presented for practical activities in the classroom that could help to make pupils more aware of their posture and movements.

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