Changes to the LtR Scheme

The Learning the Ropes scheme has been modified to include:

  • A listening or striking activity at each of the five levels.
  • More Level 2 activities reflecting the importance of developing sound foundation skills and to bring this level of the scheme in line with the equivalent level in the LtR Advanced Call Change scheme.
  • The requirement to complete safeguarding training relevant to a ringer's normal ringing location.

Listening and striking

A justified criticism of the LtR scheme has been its lack of listening and striking targets. This has now changed and each level now contains an appropriate target – be it being able to recognise poor or good striking on YouTube (Level 1), to ringing rounds whilst facing out of the circle (Level 2) to judging the striking of a plain course of Plain Bob Doubles (Level 5). All of the exercises can be completed by any LtR ringer – they don't special equipment such as a ringing simulator to complete.

Foundation skills exercises

Spending time developing and consolidating foundation skills has been shown to accelerate and extend progress in method ringing, however there is still, sometimes, a tendency to short-circuit this level, and introduce Plain Hunt, before the foundation skills have been truly mastered. The LtR Advanced Call Change scheme included a number of new exercises which have now been included in the method ringing scheme, giving plenty of new ways to inject variety and learning into early practices.

Safeguarding training

ART takes safeguarding seriously and at Level 2 the LtR scheme now requires that a ringer completes safeguarding training relevant to their local tower – i.e. what every other ringer in their tower is required to do. Ringers in secular towers or those who ring outside of England or in Catholic churches might not need to undergo any training, unless stipulated by the local church.

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