Newbattle Abbey College

Newbattle Abbey College in partnership with The Scottish Storytelling Centre is delighted to offer a residential training experience in contemporary storytelling and cultural heritage.

Newbattle Abbey College is Scotland’s only adult education residential college offering a transformative learning experience within an ancient heritage site.

What’s available?

Contemporary Oral Storytelling: Theory and Practice (SCQF Level 7)

This professional development programme is accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) through Newbattle Abbey College. It combines two residential weekends with a project in between. This leads to a double unit qualification at SCQF Level 7, with 8 credit points for each of the two parts, Practical and Project. The Practical section can be done as a standalone unit. The project unit requires prior approval of a project proposal at least three months before the unit weekend, and students are normally recommended to undertake the practical unit first. The course is designed for all those in the arts, education, interpretation, tourism and social care who use storytelling skills and approaches in their work.

Contemporary Oral Storytelling: Project (SQA F4BN 34)

Friday, 14 May 2010 – Sunday, 16 May 2010

Following on from Practical Skills, this unit uses a personal project to:

• Investigate the use of oral storytelling in a chosen professional context
• Report on the project
• Evaluate the project

This is an ideal opportunity to define objectives with expert guidance and to develop and evaluate your approach in context. Project proposals are approved in advance and reports on completed projects with feedback and discussion are presented during the project course unit weekend.

Contemporary Oral Storytelling: Practical Skills (SQA F4BM 34)

Friday, 1 October 2010 – Sunday, 3 October 2010

This unit is designed to enhance and develop skills in sourcing and applying stories within professional or specific volunteering contexts. On completion students will be able to gauge appropriate narratives, adapt/develop oral stories and communicate stories by applying specific oral skills. This unit is not for beginners but for those with some previous storytelling experience.

Contemporary Storytelling Course Fees

Residential Fee: £267.50 per unit.

Cost includes 20 hours classroom teaching; support for distance learning; assessment; registration with SQA and certification by SQA. The fee also covers 2 nights board and accommodation in 2 star campus accommodation at Newbattle Abbey College.

Non-residential Fee: £177.50 per unit (meals available to purchase).

Cost includes 20 hours classroom teaching; support for distance learning; assessment; registration with SQA and certification by SQA.

Both units are eligible for ILA funding. Contact ILA Scotland for details or go to www.ilascotland.org.uk

(October fees – awaiting details)

Read about our Storytelling Course in the press

Storytelling course has a happy ending (Edinburgh Evening News 30/06/09)

Qualifications bring a new chapter to story telling (The Scotsman 30/06/09)

Storytelling release (Hi-Arts 9/07/08)

Newbattle Abbey Scottish Storytelling Festival

Saturday 29th August

Experience the past come to life at Newbattle Abbey!

Celebrate local and Scottish culture through the art of storytelling. An exciting programme of events includes:  

• Discover Newbattle!
• Story Walk
• Audience with Mary Queen of Scots
• Modern writers at Newbattle Abbey College
• Royal Newbattle

 In the evening join us in the medieval Crypt for the storytelling ceilidh.

 This is an ideal taster for our contemporary Storytelling Course which starts in September 2009.

Please contact us for further information or to book a place – for details see Contact us panel above right.