I began teaching when I was 13 years old.
I ran a drama school for primary school aged children; I put them through LAMDA exams, they gained second and first places at festivals and we put on many a show on in the town – usually involving a random item from my parents’ house as prop.
On to Rose Bruford Drama School myself and a career in the theatre for eight years as a Versatile Soprano, I returned to education when I heard the call – TAing, working in PRUs and APs, delivering performing arts lessons…on my arrival in Brighton in my early twenties I re-set up a drama school that worked in schools around the town (and had the pleasure this time of finding the brilliant colleague Vicky Tremain) to do the bits I couldn’t – like running a samba band!)
This time I wanted to offer more than my 13 year old self had (a re-gurgitation of what my own drama teacher Miss Bivens had taught me). I began researching. One of the most useful and inspiring books I found was Getting the Buggers into Drama by Sue Cowley.
With so few women’s voices in places of influence when it comes to Behaviour in British Schools, it was a particularly poignant read for me. As I mention in my book, it is still a resource I use to this day.
So it took me all my big-girl-pants to dare to ask Sue to endorse my book, “Miss, I don’t give a sh*t”. (link to book page) What with her close link to @WomenEd and their tag line being #10percentbraver, and our apparent common liking of swear words in titles, I thought I’d give it a go…
I am still starry eyed that Sue took the time to read a proof version of my book, and am even more honoured by the hugely supportive endorsement she has given it:
Pre-order my book, “Miss, I don’t give a sh*t” Engaging with Challenging Behaviour in Schools.
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Thank you so much to Adele Bates and your wonderful ABE community and team for welcoming Flourish Mentors as your first Charity Partner!