World Teacher's Day - A career change; but still changing the lives of children
Limitations within the formal education system have led to a loss of jobs, limited options for newly-qualified teachers and a general lack of funding and resources. Whilst this is not news, with the uncertainty of Brexit, the teaching community are feeling the effects now, more than ever. In the UK alone, the governments figures show that more than 9,400 schools are in severe deficit, which amounts to more than a third of all schools. For this reason, more qualified teachers than ever are looking to external training schemes for supplementary income or for a career change.
Stagecoach Performing Arts offers its franchisees the opportunity to earn alongside a career in mainstream education, or even the chance to move career altogether.
Fay Austin, owner of the Maidenhead-based performing arts school, Stagecoach Performing Arts, formerly worked in mainstream education throughout the Surrey and Berkshire area before becoming a franchisee.
“My entire career has centered around the development of children through using drama to assist formal education. I studied for a Master’s degree at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, afterwards I secured a position as a SEN Teacher at Primary level. This involved working with children with additional learning needs and speech delays.”
Following on from a career as a SEN teacher, Fay went on to work for a company who would visit schools and teach drama as a stimulus for other subjects, “It was incredibly rewarding work but funding was so limited that schools couldn’t always afford to pay for a drama practitioner,” said Fay.
With teaching, at both public and private level, offering a limited income, Fay began exploring other options.
“I started working for Stagecoach as a teacher on the weekends. I just found that Stagecoach could offer a supplementary income which made life a little easier. I worked with them for around ten years; first as a teacher and then as a Regional Trainer and as part of the Education Department. It was at that point that owning my own business became more appealing, I’d been working tirelessly and wanted to take more of a back seat. I knew that owning my own Stagecoach business would provide financial stability for myself and my husband and that, in the long run, I’d face less limitations with what I could offer my students. It’s a win-win,” said Fay.
Many teachers feel that limitations with funding and resources within the formal education services mean they can’t be as creative as they had once hoped they would be, in a career where the aim is to inspire the next generation. Carly Sterne launched her Stagecoach business just a few weeks ago and is eager to nurture her passion for the development of young learners, alongside a career in mainstream education.
“Parents are much more interested in creative subjects, such as drama and dance, than ever before. Unfortunately, with limited resources and funding from the government, schools focus investment in traditional topics to ensure students leave with mainstream qualifications. It’s such a shame because performing arts offer crucial transferable skills for all children. It teaches children confidence and communication skills, which you can’t put a price on.”
“I love to teach. With Stagecoach, owning my Yardley Wood-based franchise means I can still work in mainstream education during the week, teaching and inspiring young students, and run my Stagecoach schools at the weekends. I feel as though I am making a real difference to children’s lives, in more ways than one,” said Carly.
You don’t have to be a teacher to start your own Stagecoach Performing Arts School. If you’re passionate about the performing arts and want to make a difference to the lives of young students, visit: www.stagecoachfranchise.com
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Editor’s notes:
Both Fay Austin and Carly Sterne are more than happy to be interviewed. We have numerous, high quality, images of Fay and Carly available on request. For more information contact kelly@revpr.co.uk or call 07895 876745.