Johannes and all his Friends are passionate about education; lifelong learning is a key part of work and play for all inter-disciplinarians as we strive to learn more about our specialisms and something about the areas worked in by our Friends.
We hope to pass on this enthusiasm for knowledge and skills to as many young people as possible through our education work.
Cross-curricular work is at the centre of almost every programme described below. We believe that making links between different subject areas is both exciting and mind-expanding for students. It's much, much for us than 'just the latest educational trend'; it's linked right into our collective's core philosophy.
Johannes particularly enjoys work in primary schools, as cross-curricular links have always been a core part of good teaching by primary teachers, all of whom have to be inter-disciplinarians. Our team enjoys the opportunity to add our professional experience of film, theatre, music and technology to young children's learning.
Recent work by Johannes and his Friends in primary schools includes:
- Filmmaking work with KS2 pupils, under the auspices of Creative Partnerships
- An enquiry examining the benefits of performative teaching and learning, also under the auspices of Creative Partnerships
- Pioneering work teaching debating to pupils as young as Year 3
Johannes Factotum and Friends offer a number of specially developed inter-disciplinary programmes for Secondary Arts, Media and English.
We are also always happy to discuss your requirements for bespoke programmes. Please contact 07812 027413 or mail@johannesfactotum.com for more details.
- Comprehensive solutions for the Creative & Media Diploma
Working out how to cover all the disciplines covered by the Creative & Media Diploma can be a tall order; use Johannes and his Friends' extensive industry experience for anything from a one-day workshop to an extended programme of professional involvement. - Set, costume and video design for theatre
Theatrical set and costume designers, and practitioners in the exciting new field of theatrical video projection, respond to specific briefs and tight budgets, yet manage to achieve exciting solutions to the problems they are set by producers and directors. Using teams of experienced designers and directors, we offer workshops of varying lengths to introduce your students to these crucial aspects of theatre. - Acting for stage v. acting for screen
Johannes and his Friends reckon the most useful and accessible way for students to be introduced to different styles of acting isn't through complicated theories, but through practical immersion in our workshop on the differences between acting for stage and acting for screen. - Theatre Practitioners
Johannes brings years of research and his full panoply of dramatic, musical and technical talents to his highly creative approach to workshops on Brecht, Stanislavsky and Artaud. He also offers workshops in the theatre practice of Wagner as an exciting way to examine the theory and practice of 'Gesamtkunstwerk'. - Shakespeare
As Johannes's favourite 'Johannes Factotum', Shakespearian work forms a core part of the collective's programme of workshops. - Translating Lieder & MÉlodies
This unique programme brings together music, MFL and English students to work together on creating performable translations of great German and French songs. Works by Schubert, Brecht/Weill/Eisler, Fauré and Charles Aznavour are often used, although we can meet your bespoke requirements for any composition in French or German. - THEATER / THÉÂTRE
From post-16 target language work on Brecht, Goethe, Ionesco or Racine (or a residency to produce a whole play with G&T students) to our specially written playlets like 'Une nuit dans la maison enchantée'. Using experienced director-linguists, some of whom are mother-tongue directors with professional experience in European theatres. - Soundtracks & Soundscapes
Experienced composers, musicians and actor-musicians help students with any degree of musical knowledge explore soundworlds for theatre and film.
Johannes Factotum and Friends offer a number of specially developed inter-disciplinary programmes for Secondary Music.
We are also always happy to discuss your requirements for bespoke programmes. Please contact 07812 027413 or mail@johannesfactotum.com for more details.
- Translating Lieder & MÉlodies
This unique programme brings together music, MFL and English students to work together on creating performable translations of great German and French songs. Works by Schubert, Brecht/Weill/Eisler, Fauré and Charles Aznavour are often used, although we can meet your bespoke requirements for any composition in French or German. - Choral and solo singing: Repertoire and performance workshops
From Bach to the Beatles and Schubert to Sinatra, our vocal experts are classically trained soloists with a genuine interest in popular music and experience with some of the world's finest choral ensembles. - Comprehensive solutions for the Creative & Media Diploma
Working out how to cover all the disciplines covered by the Creative & Media Diploma can be a tall order; use Johannes and his Friends' extensive industry experience for anything from a one-day workshop to an extended programme of professional involvement. - Stage presence for musicians
Inter-disciplinary director/musicians explore how singers and instrumentalists can enhance their live performances through an understanding of the art of the actor. - Opera & Musical Theatre
In these most inter-disciplinary of art forms, we use experienced actor-musicians, choreographers and directors with a detailed understanding of both music and theatre to help your students develop a comprehensive suite of skills. - Soundtracks & Soundscapes
Experienced composers, musicians and actor-musicians help students with any degree of musical knowledge explore soundworlds for theatre and film.
Johannes Factotum and Friends offer a number of specially developed inter-disciplinary programmes for Secondary Media.
We are also always happy to discuss your requirements for bespoke programmes. Please contact 07812 027413 or mail@johannesfactotum.com for more details.
- Comprehensive solutions for the Creative & Media Diploma
Working out how to cover all the disciplines covered by the Creative & Media Diploma can be a tall order; use Johannes and his Friends' extensive industry experience for anything from a one-day workshop to an extended programme of professional involvement. - Acting for stage v. acting for screen
Johannes and his Friends reckon the most useful and accessible way for students to be introduced to different styles of acting isn't through complicated theories, but through practical immersion in our workshop on the differences between acting for stage and acting for screen. - LES ACTUALITÉS / DIE NACHRICHTEN
We bring all the equipment to create and broadcast your students' own TV magazine show in French or German. With mother-tongue journalists when available. Suitable for KS3 to A-level and durations of 1-5 days. - Soundtracks & Soundscapes
Experienced composers, musicians and actor-musicians help students with any degree of musical knowledge explore soundworlds for theatre and film.
- COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS FOR SCIENTISTS
In our media-oriented world, scientists are now often required to make public appearances on news programmes or the radio. Our unique 'Communications Skills for Scientists Day' uses inter-disciplinary professionals with experience of work in both the sciences and the media/performing arts to improve your science students' confidence and communication skills, and make them aware of how best to treat the modern media so that complex scientific ideas stand a better chance of avoiding the standard tendencies for distortion or misrepresentation by lazy, misinformed or incompetent presenters or journalists. - Curriculum-based documentaries
From The Blue Planet and Bang Goes the Theory to Simon Schama's History of Britain, Michael Palin's travelogues and series like Panorama, Britain is rightly renowned for its documentary filmmaking. Our award-winning documentary filmmakers can help your students deepen their subject knowledge by making their own documentaries on any topic. Or why not emulate a popular edutainment format like Dragon's Den or Scrapheap Challenge?
Johannes Factotum and Friends offer a number of specially developed inter-disciplinary programmes for Secondary Modern Foreign Languages.
We are also always happy to discuss your requirements for bespoke programmes. Please contact 07812 027413 or mail@johannesfactotum.com for more details.
- LES ACTUALITÉS / DIE NACHRICHTEN
We bring all the equipment to create and broadcast your students' own TV magazine show in French or German. With mother-tongue journalists when available. Suitable for KS3 to A-level and durations of 1-5 days. - Translating Lieder & MÉlodies
This unique programme brings together music, MFL and English students to work together on creating performable translations of great German and French songs. Works by Schubert, Brecht/Weill/Eisler, Fauré and Charles Aznavour are often used, although we can meet your bespoke requirements for any composition in French or German. - THEATER / THÉÂTRE
From post-16 target language work on Brecht, Goethe, Ionesco or Racine (or a residency to produce a whole play with G&T students) to our specially written playlets like 'Une nuit dans la maison enchantée'. Using experienced director-linguists, some of whom are mother-tongue directors with professional experience in European theatres.
Whether it's working to a production budget or calculating depths-of-field or sightlines, numeracy in general and financial acumen in particular is crucial in the arts.
We specialise in consultancy on schemes of work to develop cross-curricular work with your arts departments.
Using methods developed from working practices in the media and the theatre, your students' confidence to present their thoughts on your subject orally can be improved with amazing speed and effectiveness.
Harold/'Johannes' is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading experts in teaching debating and public speaking in secondary schools.
mail@johannesfactotum.com
Harold raitt
aka Johannes Factotum
As the son of two pioneering teachers, Harold has inherited the education gene.
From his father – a key member of the Nuffield Schools Science Project in the 1960s and author of the brilliant 'Physics In Engineering' series of textbooks – he has learned the value of making sure that every activity is rooted in practical, real-life applications. From his mother – an English teacher and visionary Senior Manager in boarding schools – he knows the importance of the arts in the pastoral landscape of every school.
Harold's own achievements in education include interactive learning tools like the Online Tour of the National Theatre, and extensive work with spoken English, both as a member of the English-Speaking Union's Centre for Speech & Debate and, latterly, as a freelancer.