Here at Jake's Circus, we offer fun, engaging and educational circus workshops for schools and children of all ages. Circus skills workshops are a great way to kick off a circus topic, act as a reward day and wellbeing day or as an active icebreaker to start the term.
We offer a flexible approach and work with the organiser to tailor your circus skills workshop to meet your needs and the needs and abilities of the participants. The duration of our circus skills workshops can be from 1 hour to a full day. We even hold a "Circus Week" where the whole school can be taught and then finish with a show to parents on Friday.
Self-Confidence | Co-ordination | Fitness | Teamwork
Timetables
To give you an idea of the format and content of our circus skills workshops, we have detailed a selection of typical workshops below. However, all of our circus skills workshops can be customised to your requirements.
Typical Day Workshop for 4 Classes - 1 Hour Sessions
09:00 - Introduction & demo to whole school in Assembly.
09:20 - Class 1
10:20 - Class 2
11:20 - Set up for lunch
12:00 - Lunch
13:00 - Pack up from lunch
13:15 - Class 3
14:15 - Class 4
15:15 - End
Typical Day Workshop for 6 Classes - 45 Minute Sessions
09:00 - Class 1
09:45 - Class 2
10:30 - Class 3
11:15 - Set up for lunch
12:00 - Lunch
13:00 - Pack up from lunch
13:15 - Class 4
14:00 - Class 5
14:45 - Class 6
15:30 - End
Equipment
We have a wide variety of circus skills equipment to provide a fun challenge for all ages. With enough to teach classes of up to 40 children at once, everyone will be active from start to finish. Our range of circus skills equipment includes:
Juggling balls, scarves & clubs
Diabolos
Devil sticks
Spinning Plates
Poi
Manipulator Hats
Wooden, Bucket & Peg Stilts
Pedal-Gos & Fun Wheels
Mini Bikes
Unicycles
Balance Beams
Slack Lines
4 Metre Tightwire
How We Teach
Teaching the whole class together, we teach one prop at a time, broken down into simple steps and a variety of tricks. Then to end the session, students get free time on all circus skills equipment.
Typical 1 Hour Circus Workshop
09:00 - Introduction
09:05 - Warm-up and juggling with scarves
09:15 - Devil sticks
09:30 - Diabolo
09:40 - Safety Demo
09:45 - Free time on all circus equipment
In Depth Circus Workshop
Our circus skills workshops always begin with a warm-up using scarves to get everyone moving. Juggling scarves fly very slowly so act as a great, simple start to get your eyes and hands working together. After some fun challenges with 1 scarf, we'll move on to 2 scarf juggling. Broken down into simple steps, most ages should quickly be able to learn 2 different juggling patterns. Then with older ages (8+) we'll progress onto juggling with 3 scarves.
Next up, devil sticks (also known as flower sticks), a really fun prop with lots of achievable tricks for all ages. Taught as a whole class together, we demonstrate one trick at a time and then encourage everyone to have a try. During this time we'll go around and see how everyone is getting on, helping and giving tips where needed
The third prop we teach is the diabolo, a very popular prop which lots of kids get hooked on. Firstly, we explain how it works and the science behind it, before showing our simple technique to get it spinning. We then go around and assist while the class has a go. Depending on the age and ability of the class, we'll then teach a simple trick or two.
Then, to end the session, it's free time. After a safety talk and demo, students get to try all of the circus equipment, including walking the tightwire, walking on stilts and riding mini-bikes & pedal-gos.
Prices
Half Day (2 Sessions) - £200
Two x one hour circus skills workshops
Half Day (3 Sessions) - £220
Three x fourty-five minute circus skills workshops
Full Day (4 sessions) - £280
Four x one hour circus skills workshops
Full Day (6 Sessions) - £320
Six x fourty-five minute circus skills workshops
Optional Extras
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4 Metre Tightwire - £40
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Unicycles & Handrails - £20
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Assembly Show - £20
Optional Extras
Make it an extra special, memorable day by adding extras to create a bespoke package to meet your needs and budget.
Tightwire
Our 4 metre tightwire is a great way to create a circus feel. With our assistance, pupils get to balance across and feel like real circus performers - £40
Unicycles
Give the students the opportunity to try the unicycle, along with our handrails which make it really easy for all ages to have a go. The unicycles are one of our most popular and unique pieces of equipment that most circus skills workshops don't offer - £20
Assembly Show
Add an assembly show to the day, either first thing as an introduction to the fun day ahead or at the end of the day as a finale finish. This could be performed to the whole school or just the classes involved in the circus skills workshop - £20
Performance
Why not end the day with a performance? A chance for students to showcase their new skills learned throughout the day, to the rest of the school or even their parents. Throughout the workshops, each child will be chosen a prop or two that they enjoy, that they'll perform in groups of each prop. All done to music, dressed in waistcoats and clown hats!
One or two of the more confident speaking pupils can even be the ringmasters. Fully dressed in ringmaster outfits to introduce each group performance
“Just to say a massive thankyou for what you did back in July. The children had a truly fantastic day and many memories. We will be booking you again! Once again thanks for being so brilliant.”
Alex Kear-Hill
Waverley Preparatory School
“I wanted to personally thank you for the
circus day at Kings Copse recently. The children had an amazing day and all the feedback from staff was very positive. Not only is it a great experience for the children but it provides a real focus point for their learning and a great stimulus in inspiring their writing and creative work. Thank you again and I am sure we will be in touch again in the future.”
Jo Hart
Kings Copse Primary School
“Thank you again for the experience you provided for our year 13 students. They really enjoyed themselves and had nothing but positive praise for the sessions - you and Chris were superb - friendly and engaging! It is no mean feat to keep 18 year olds enthused for an hour! Thanks again!”