After more than eight years teaching with Stagecoach Performing Arts Schools in the UK, I’ve seen the backstage workings of a Saturday school — new students’ first week nerves, the warm-ups that turn into giggle-fests, the small but powerful victories when a student takes a risk and feels that sense of pride and growth. This year, I’ve embraced an exciting new challenge — launching my very own Stagecoach school. It also means relocating my family from the UK back across the pond to my hometown of Ottawa to bring our dream of business ownership to life.
This September, I’ll be opening Stagecoach Ottawa West — my first business, my first experience as a franchisee, and my first time bringing this performing arts programme to a market that has largely never heard of it. My life’s work to date has been as a musical theatre performer and educator. But I always had the idea that I’d want a school of my own to marry my love for the arts with what it can do for children (and what it did for me when I was a kid).
Principal / franchisee training in Surrey, UK
Although I already knew the teaching side of Stagecoach very well, the 5-day franchisee training opened up a completely different view of the business — from operational systems and legal responsibilities to marketing, safeguarding, team leadership and our educational framework. It’s one thing to plan and execute a lesson; it’s another to plan and manage an entire school.
The level of detail required is challenging, but also comforting. Everything has been thought of, there is always someone to ask. The systems Stagecoach has developed over decades aren’t just about logistics — they’re designed to support franchisees in delivering something consistent and meaningful. It isn’t rigid, though, your school belongs to you, the principal. You have the freedom to shape your school around your community, your voice, and your values. As someone who understands how students’ needs should guide your decisions, that kind of flexibility is essential.
One of the most useful parts of the week was hearing from other franchisees, both new and experienced with varied sizes of businesses. Their lived experiences are invaluable and fascinating. It reminded me that everyone starts somewhere — and that building something strong and sustainable takes time, patience, and a willingness to not be perfect but to keep going. This lesson in resilience is one I have been learning throughout my life in the arts, and here it is again in business!
As a teacher, I was used to thinking in terms of “this Saturday” or “this term.” Now, I’m thinking in terms of years. I’m thinking about the kind of culture I want to create, the kind of team I want to build, and the kind of reputation I want the school to have in the broader community. It’s a mental shift to come out of the classroom, but as I said, I have been contemplating having a school for years. I feel very ready for this new chapter.
Opening jitters
Of course, there are nerves. I haven’t lived in Ottawa for over 15 years and I am balancing the to-do list of a startup with family life and a cross-Atlantic move. But there’s also real excitement in finally getting out into the community and sharing this program I’ve been part of for so long — talking to people about the impact it can have for kids of all backgrounds and the opportunities it creates. I’m the first Stagecoach in Ottawa but I have so many franchisee peers in the same position or who are further down the road — instant community. That’s what’s kept me grounded throughout this transition: knowing that the work is meaningful and I am not alone.
Coming up
I am madly working on the marketing for the school, social media, business profiles, figuring out where to put posters and scheduling in local events / markets / fairs to be a part of this summer. I am also interviewing teacher applicants shortly. It’s a lot but I am taking it one task at a time. The countdown is on to opening day.
