From Student to School Manager – Meet Benjy!
- Published Date: March 12, 2024
Meet Benjy – Ex-Jigsaw Student and now Jigsaw Finchley School Manager!
When did you first join Jigsaw Arts?
I first attended a Jigsaw summer school when I was in primary school. I still have fond memories of the shows we put together! I later returned to Jigsaw and joined their weekend classes in Finchley. I made some fantastic friends and reminisce about our shows frequently. I then began working for Jigsaw as an assistant before becoming a Performing Arts Teacher whilst studying for my degree in Musical Theatre. I learnt so many valuable skills during my years as a teacher and I was looking for a way to share those with others. I was a regular cover teacher at Jigsaw Finchley once I graduated, and the natural next step was for me to become the Manager of the school! I’m currently in my first term as the school Manager and I am loving every second!
Did you train for the role?
To train for the role, I spent time shadowing the school owner, Imogen, and started to deliver on some of the role myself, receiving feedback along the way. I then attended the training with Nikki and Imogen at Head Office, where we spoke about the theory behind being a great manager and how I could make an impact at Jigsaw Finchley.
What do you enjoy most in your new role?
Each Sunday, I have 3 key priorities running through my mind. Priority number 1 is the safety of all our wonderful children and staff members. I ensure that our venue is safe and secure and that I address any potential issues. Priority number 2 is making sure everyone is involved and having fun! Jigsaw is a place to belong, so I make sure all our children are getting stuck in during their lessons. Priority number 3 is making sure our parents see the value in our performing arts classes, no matter what their individual goals are. I love chatting to families and sharing stories of what their children have been up to in their classes.
My favourite part of the role has to be seeing our children grow in confidence week on week! Supported by our fantastic team of teachers, our children continue to build their confidence through exciting pieces of Dance, Drama and Singing…and of course some fun games!