Growing up, I spent my Saturday mornings at a local performing arts academy. It got me through my week, and, like everyone, I could spend hours shouting about all the transferable skills those years equipped me with.
Fast forward to A levels and suddenly all my friends had Saturday jobs – they were splashing out on clothes while I wanted to save for theatre tickets. It was then I stumbled across an article in the local newspaper, announcing that a Pauline Quirke Academy (PQA) was set to open nearby in Watford. I emailed the principal, asked if they needed any assistants and, before I knew it, my Saturdays were once again filled with drama (of the best kind).
No looking back
I took a gap year and fell into theatre journalism but continued to spend my Saturdays at PQA teaching Poppets classes. Despite working crazy hours during the week, I always looked forward to my Saturdays at PQA. The moment I walked through the Academy doors, the outside world was irrelevant; those 4- and 5-year-olds didn't care what shows I had written about that week, or what else was going on in my life… they just wanted to have an amazing time! Whether we spent the morning visiting Narnia or on an epic Bear Hunt, it was always the best possible form of escapism.
I took on more responsibility over the years, then in 2016 I took over as principal of PQA Watford and haven't looked back. I'm not the kind of person who likes to sit still, and I think that is why I love being part of PQA. In addition to acting in our Comedy & Drama classes and singing and dancing in our Musical Theatre classes, we also do filmmaking in our Film & Television classes. This opens our students’ eyes to a totally different area of the industry and adds variety to the projects we can get stuck into. While our students rotate through all three modules each week, there is no repetition; our students are constantly pushed in new directions which keeps things fresh for my team and ensures I'm kept on my toes.
Never a dull moment
As a PQA principal, one minute I'm producing a promenade production of A Christmas Carol, the next I'm in the projection room of our local cinema ahead of our red-carpet cinema screening and then I'm on a coach into London filled with excited students about to perform a fully produced musical in a West End theatre. There is never a dull moment!
I was definitely one of those kids who eye-rolled when a teacher commented on how much I had grown, or how old I made them feel… but it is only now, having worked with PQA for eight and a half years, that I truly understand how they felt. Some of those students I took to Narnia when they were five years old and in my Poppets class are now teenagers! Each week when I see them directing short films or leading by example in the rehearsal room for our next big performance, I'm taken aback. As a principal, it is the greatest pleasure to see each student come into their own and discover their passion… although I try to avoid more eyes being rolled by not vocalising those feelings too often.
Success story
However, one person that has had to sit through me singing their praises regularly is Hope, one of our original students. Hope joined PQA when she was 14 as she had a passion for performing but was lacking in confidence. She was one of the quieter members of the group, but always got stuck into everything and never missed a session. Throughout her time with PQA, Hope discovered her passion for filmmaking. She came to PQA knowing nothing about it, but by the time she graduated from us she had secured a place at Westminster University on their Television Production course, following in the footsteps of her PQA teacher who had done that very same course a few years earlier.
While training, Hope returned to PQA as our Film & Television assistant, and last year took over as the main module teacher. One of my highlights from the past eight years has been watching Hope's journey, and to see first-hand how she has used those transferable skills she gained from taking part in performing arts to become a well-rounded, confident individual and a highly valued member of my teaching team (although I still feel old every time I see her).
More than ever
More and more I'm hearing from students that they do not have access to performing arts at school. This year perhaps, fewer students than ever have had access to drama, music and dance due to ‘academic’ subjects being prioritised, which is devastating.
While I don't like to sit still, I could never have anticipated the challenge of steering a performing arts Academy through a global pandemic. PQA plays a big part in the lives and well-being of our students, which has pushed me in new ways to adapt the way we work to ensure students still have access to their passion. Complacency is nowhere in sight and I'm prouder than ever to be a PQA principal.
For more information about becoming a PQA principal, visit www.pqacademy.com/become-a-principal