EDUCATORS WELCOME BENEFITS OF FILMCLUB AS TEACHERS INVITED TO SIGN UP FREE TRAINING AND SIGN-UP SESSIONS TO BE HELD AT VENUES ACROSS UK

A growing band of children across the UK are benefiting from an innovative scheme backed by educationalists and celebrities to engage and inspire children through the world of film.  Research into the impact of FILMCLUB – whose supporters include the likes of Emma Thompson, Ewan McGregor, Professor Mel Ainscow and Lord Puttnam - shows that by enabling youngsters to share and discuss a broad range of movies, this free after-school club is boosting literacy and critical skills, building confidence, integrating isolated students and promoting greater understanding of different ideas and cultures. 

Thousands more schools can now join the UK’s fastest growing after school club as FILMCLUB announces a series of free training and sign-up events taking place at venues in all major towns and cities across the UK.

The inductions are open to teachers, headteachers, teaching assistants, school librarians, 6th formers and any film-buffs in education.  Attendees will meet their Support co-ordinator, be shown how to navigate around the FILMCLUB website, receive help choosing their first ten films - and leave with all the ideas and resources they need to launch and run a successful film club in their own school or college.

Since its launch FILMCLUB has been endorsed by film industry professionals and educationalists alike:

 “FILMCLUB is incredible. Through it children will be exposed to different worlds, new cultures and the limitless possibilities life has to offer.  I made up my mind what I wanted to do when I was a young school kid – perhaps FILMCLUB will inspire children to decide what they want to do.”

Actor, Ewan McGregor 

"Like many great ideas, FILMCLUB is a simple one - and it has come along at just the right moment... There is compelling evidence of the potential of films to contribute to the development of a richer diet [of education] that can help to turn on many more youngsters to  learning.  FILMCLUB has helped to inspire creativity, improvements in literacy, writing and oral language, and an awareness of other cultures.”

 Mel Ainscow Professor of Education at Manchester University

Founded by film director Beeban Kidron (Bridget Jones’ Diary: The Edge Of Reason) and educationalist Lindsay Mackie, FILMCLUB provides pupils and teachers with free weekly access to thousands of classic and popular titles covering every genre and era of moviemaking, as well as to film industry, news and talent.  Its ‘Close Encounters’ programme of school visits by film industry experts lifts the veil on filmmaking and opens up new paths in film for young people to explore.

“What we do through FILMCLUB is discuss the films and their (the childrens’) imagination is fired. They are getting experiences outside of their everyday life and it is wonderful to see their faces.”                                 

  Janice Middleton, Head Teacher

One year on from its launch, 2800 schools have joined FILMCLUB, with over 80,000* young people already benefiting from the exposure to inspiring and potentially life changing films every week. Based on recent research carried out by FILMCLUB amongst its schools on the impact of the scheme, results showed the initiative is proving hugely beneficial to children’s academic and social development;

• Over 80% reported that FILMCLUB has a positive effect on children’s receptiveness to learning.
• 94% said that FILMCLUB develops children’s critical reasoning skills.

Across the board the research confirmed that FILMCLUB fulfils the objectives of Every Child Matters in being both educational and enjoyable. FILMCLUB really is making school a happier  

place with 84% of 345 primary and 82% of 373 secondary school respondents claiming that they enjoy coming to school more because of FILMCLUB. 

“I’m a huge fan of this initiative and I’m going to do everything in my power to help it become a success.  Not only can it enrich the quality of our lives, it can help us arrive at a far better understanding of the lives of others – something that at this point in our history, may well be more critical than ever.”               

Lord Puttnam of Queensgate

Places on the FILMCLUB induction sessions are limited – sign up now and come along to find out how FILMCLUB can benefit your school and pupils. Visit www.filmclub.org and click on ‘I want to set up a club’ and follow the easy steps.  Alternatively, call a member on the schools team on 0207 288 4520 for further information.

FILMCLUB

FILMCLUB was set up in 2006 by Lindsay Mackie and Beeban Kidron, and a successful pilot took place January-March 2007. Following funding from the DCSF a national roll out began in April 2008 and FILMCLUB was officially launched in June 2008.

FILMCLUB is funded in England by the Department of Children Schools and Families (DCSF), in Northern Ireland by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and Northern Ireland Screen, in Wales by the Film Agency for Wales and Skillset Screen Academy in Wales and in Scotland by Scottish Screen. FILMCLUB also receives generous support from LOVEFiLM, the UK’s largest online DVD rental company, which provides access to their film catalogue; FILMBANK, leaders in non-theatrical movie distribution in the UK, and UK Film Council, the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK.

FILMCLUB Induction Events/ Registration:

For further information and to register for free sign up please visit www.filmclub.org or call to speak to a member of the FILMCLUB schools team on 0207 288 4520.

What FILMCLUB Offers:

• Easy online sign-up, regional induction sessions, one-to-one support, advice & training
• Thousands of DVDs available to order online – with free delivery straight to your school
• Special events, screenings and inspirational visits by film industry talent
• ”Stars & Sparks” scheme to reward and celebrate outstanding clubs & club members
• Licensing that allows you to show films after-school
• Thousands of great films drawn from over 100 years of cinema, including movies of every genre, style, nationality and era

Induction details in January - March 2010

For more information or to sign up for a free introductory session visit www.filmclub.org, click on 'Want to Set Up A Club?' in top right-hand corner and follow the easy steps.