“I specifically want to do something in performing arts, whether that’s musical theatre or drama. I started here 5 years ago and now I’m back here teaching which is quite nice.”
Sam is currently studying her PGCE at Sheffield Hallam whilst she does her work placement at Chesterfield College. Sam talks to us about her study and career journey and goes into detail about the industry and the plethora of jobs available.
“I came here at 19, turning 20 to do all the levels that were available at the time, and then I went to Sheffield college to do a 3-year degree. Now, I’m with Sheffield Hallam doing the PGCE whilst doing my teaching placement here.”
Sam has been through exactly what the students are going through as they progress through the course. Sam can relate her experiences, and use her knowledge to support the students with similar content that she studied during her time at chesterfield.
“Some of the content is the same as what I did so it is refreshing my memory”
We asked Sam why she decided to carry on her studies further to become a teacher.
“I’ve always wanted to do performing arts specifically. I’m more vocational than I’ve ever been academic. I like doing rather than essay writing. The teaching aspiration came after I left here and started my degree. It was a cross between, I have kids so I wanted to make I had a solid job and also, I would have never gotten this far without the people who taught me so I want to be that person that leads other people.”
Sam will finish her PGCE this year and wants to go straight into teaching full-time.
“I will be an NQT when I finish and then during my first year of training, I can do a QTS which is a qualified teaching status which is a fancier upgrade of being a new teacher. I’m looking at teaching jobs, mainly secondary schools are looking at the minute whereas colleges start looking July/August.”
You don’t just have to be a teacher. There’s a vast range of jobs in the industry that you can go into, but not all of them are obvious.
“There’s a huge range of jobs if you are willing to be open to opportunities. Even for people who don’t like singing and dancing but love acting, you’ve got cruises, entertainment in theme parks, public speaking and TV. It’s a very wide community. If you do the musical theatre route you’ve got more options but don’t let that limit you. Musical theatre is for live not film so something like TV wouldn’t be suited for them. You can do either or both, there’s a very fine line as you’ve got films such as greatest showman and actors who do live entertainment. You’ve just got to be willing to branch out, travel and do small jobs.”
Performing arts helps with personable skills, not only job prospects.
“It helps with everything, confidence, job interviews, social skills and just being able to talk to people. You are willing to do anything, you can work with people you haven’t spoken to before and you are willing to put on a show for them.“