Spotlight on Katie from Jigsaw Harpenden!

Katie, Owner and Manager of Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools Harpenden is thrilled to be bringing fun and engaging singing, dance and drama classes to children in Harpenden January 2025!

Spotlight on Katie from Jigsaw Harpenden

My Jigsaw journey started in 2012 as a performing arts teacher for children aged 3-4 and 5-6. I also taught singing and dance classes in the 7+ years classes at Jigsaw before becoming a Manager. In 2015, I set up my own franchise business with Jigsaw and opened Jigsaw Watford. After the success and joy that running my own school brought, I decided to open Jigsaw Bushey in 2017 and then took over Jigsaw Hendon in 2019.

I’ve been very busy managing three successful Jigsaw Schools and moving to Harpenden, getting settled in here and having a family. I’ve got three children under four! And as soon as I moved to Harpenden, my initial thoughts were ‘this town needs a Jigsaw’. Performing arts and the benefits of our classes is something that I really truly believe in. I love the the ethos of Jigsaw, creating that place to belong for our students, making sure that young people have access to a supportive environment to grow and enjoy singing and dancing and acting.

They were the things that I loved the most when I was younger. I was quite a shy child, especially around new people and adults. Though as soon as I got on stage, and I performed I felt like a different person. It was like an outlet for me to be able to express myself and really feel like the real me. So I know how beneficial it was in my childhood for confidence and self-esteem and I love that with Jigsaw we have so many amazing students that come through our doors, some of which go on to be in the West End!

One of my first pupils at Jigsaw went on to be the longest-running young Simba in The Lion King in the West End, which was an incredible achievement and it was such a joy to see him on stage performing that role. Jigsaw do have an Agency to represent those students that really want to go further with a career in the performing arts. The Agency offers lots of exciting opportunities but the majority of the students that come to Jigsaw are there to make friends, have fun and build confidence and social skills.

Jigsaw is an incredible place for building those skills and I love the idea of bringing that to my doorstep at Katherine Warrington School. The facilities are fantastic and I can’t wait to walk around the school and hear the music, the singing, the laughter. It is such a joy!

I love being a mum and meeting other parents in Harpenden through toddler classes that I attend with my youngest so I’m also really excited to create a similar community for parents at Jigsaw.

JIGSAW HARPENDEN