The first challenge I was faced with in preparation for this module, was to source a work placement. During the COVID-19 lockdown I had used my time to achieve an HND in Music Performance and Rockschool Grade 8 in drums with a Disticntion, so teaching seemed like an obvious choice, and was a career path…

When I started pouring my thoughts into my personal statement for the Music Therapy Work-Based Learning Placement, I couldn’t help but drift back to the tunes that shaped the soundtrack of my life. From the cheerful melodies that danced through celebrations to the comforting notes that whispered solace during tough times, music was more than…

A reflective blog on my initial experiences at Belfast Royal Academy. What happens when a small-town country girl meets a city grammar school? When Belfast Royal Academy responded to my email and happily confirmed that they had space for me to do my placement with them, I was ecstatic.  My friends who attended BRA told…

As i walked up to the entrance of Antrim Grammar School to meet Natalie, the head of the Drama department, a realisation struck me, i am no longer entering a school as a student. When the students see me, i will be perceived as a knowledgeable educator who they can turn to for trusted advice,…

Working in the theatre isn’t always plain sailing. I realised this when I started searching for a placement in July 2023. It was quite difficult to reach out and write to many different theatre companies explaining why it would be great for me to do my placement there. The majority of the theatre companies I…

Anna Russell I completed my placement in a local primary school in my hometown. The school is situated in a seaside town in rural Donegal. There are around a hundred and twenty students in the school.  The school employs two AEL teachers, two special needs assistants, and five class teachers. When I began my placement around…

There were a lot of nerves surrounding securing a work placement and needless to say I was just as relieved as I was excited when I contacted Martha O’Kane and began a placement at Walk On Air Films. However, shortly after starting my placement the nerves returned with a vengeance. After a couple of quiet…

Work Experience Self-Reflection Pie You Will Need; 1 cup of creative juices An array of feelings, accumulated from your work placement experiences Gibb’s Reflective Cycle (1988) A willingness to learn from your experiences Method; Self-Reflection Pie is a fantastic choice for the student who wants to learn from everything they do but knows that “the…

The Perfect Placement: After a trying and difficult time searching for a placement that felt right and beneficial to me and my future career plans, I finally secured one with Bruiser Theatre Company in Belfast. My placement does not start until January. However, I have been working closely with Bruiser since the summer on different…