St Paul’s Church in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter is the headquarters of the Birmingham School of Bell Ringing. An additional three towers form the school. Equipped with computer simulators and a purpose built school room, St Paul’s is the first port of call for new ringers at the start of their ringing careers. In addition, The School is committed to the training of new ringing teachers and operates a mentoring system for teachers completing the Integrated Teacher Training Scheme. The School is endorsed by the Association of Ringing Teachers.
Training takes place simultaneously on Saturday mornings from 10.15 – 12.15 at four locations in the Diocese of Birmingham. Students follow the Learning the Ropes Scheme and are taught to handle at St Paul’s.
On completion of each level students progress to the next location.
During Level 2, students are matched to local towers that need new ringers for service ringing and practice nights, but maintain their linkswith the school for their training needs. All tutors are ITTS trained.
This centralised training greatly improves the speed at which people learn and become useful additions to local bands.
A greater consistency of teaching is achieved and gives anyone wishing to learn to ring a comprehensive introduction to the art of changeringing.
About the School
A new approach to training
Birmingham School of Bell Ringing is currently unique in its approach to bell ringing training. Until now the training of new ringers has always been undertaken by individual churches for their own bands. However, in recent years it has been noted that the quality of training is very variable and in some cases leaves a lot…
The programme
Learning bell ringing is a hobby that does require some commitment. As with all technical skills, it is time spent practicing that leads to competence and therefore fulfilment and enjoyment. The early stages are quite difficult (relatively…) and need to be mastered correctly to ensure a neat and tidy style that enables the ringer to…
Cost
It is unusual for ringers to be charged for tuition, but this is an ambitious scheme with costs over and above simple volunteer time. Materials were collected and developed by the Association of Ringing Teachers and we make sizeable donations back to them. Each student is registered on the Learning the Ropes scheme entitling them to…
FAQs
Q. Who can ring? A. Students come to us via a variety of different routes – some approach their local church wanting to join the ringers there and are directed to us for training until they are ready to ring with their chosen band. Others come to us through a personal recommendation or internet search…
