Manchester Alexander Technique
Training School
Est. 2001
MATTS is an internationally recognised centre of excellence offering:
A first-class professional training course for teachers
Postgraduate training for teachers
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Occasional or regular visits and intensive courses for the public
MATTS is a STAT-approved professional training course for teachers made up of 1600 class hours, together with some home study. Graduates are certified by STAT and are eligible to join the Society as teaching members.
Full-time training usually takes three years. However, nowadays many students choose to train part-time and are free to choose a training schedule that suits them on a completely flexible basis.
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We also offer postgraduate training and individually designed courses for people who have had a foundation course of lessons and who would like to deepen their Alexander Technique skills in an intensive group setting, and/or for those who have an interest in training and who would like to explore this further before making a commitment to train.
Students at MATTS benefit from a learning environment that is friendly, supportive, inclusive and professional.
"Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) about training as an AT teacher
The training experience: students describe their experience of training as an AT teacher
Detailed information about our training course for teachers
MATTS was founded in 2001 and has graduated 43 teachers (May 2025). The great majority of our graduates have active teaching practices today, several with great distinction.
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MATTS was founded and led by Malcolm Williamson. Malcolm was assisted by Peter Bloch for several years and then by Nigel Evans.
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After 16 years we closed our formal training course for a break at the end of 2017. However, we continued without a pause with weekly and then twice-weekly classes for teachers and potential trainee teachers led by Peter Bloch and based on a traditional training course format.
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We reopened as a part-time training course for teachers in April 2020 and as a full-time course in September 2021. At the moment (January 2025) we have 12 trainee teachers. We continue in the long-established MATTS tradition of providing a first class professional training as a teacher of the Alexander Technique in a friendly and inclusive environment.
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MATTS Teacher Training Course Graduates 2001-2025
Gillian Thorndyke* July 2003
Wendy Broad* July 2003
Pauline Leng July 2004
Miriam Press July 2004
Liz Hulse July 2004
Tom Clough* March 2005
Robin Todd July 2005
Sheila Bulley* July 2005
Giles Smith July 2006
Julia Woodman December 2006
Pete Robinson March 2007
Ann Whitehead July 2007
Janice Yule July 2007
Neil Roberts December 2007
Sue Fleming March 2008
Alice Burke July 2008
Gillian Pierce July 2009
Andrea Walsh December 2009
Kathy Charlton December 2009
Julia Roberts March 2010
Marie Leenhardt March 2010
Kim Cant December 2010
Ruth Currell December 2010
Gerard Healey* November 2012
David Hudson December 2012
Andy Moorhouse February 2013
Jenny Fox Eades April 2014
Annalisa Faenza July 2014
Maggie Bishop July 2014
Karen McCarthy* July 2014
Sue Urquhart March 2016
Kate Jacobs October 2016
Charlotte Woods July 2017
Rhiannon Jones October 2017
Su Harrison October 2018
Andrea Hughes** August 2020
Dan Parr November 2022
Sallie Bancroft November 2023
James Power February 2024
Madge Slater November 2024
Jane Hawes March 2025
Chris Stone March 2025
Julie Carter March 2025
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* Transferred from a STAT-approved training school
**Completed part of training at MATTS