North Wales performer goes from spotlight to school stage as Head of Drama
A musical theatre performer turned drama teacher is inspiring students through the medium of Welsh thanks to the flexible courses offered by The Open University in Wales, which is addressing urgent teacher shortages in secondary schools across the country.
Sioned, 33, from Llansannan, completed her post-graduate certificate in education (PGCE) in Education with The Open University in 2019 after finishing her undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre at the University of Central Lancashire. The musical theatre actress began her career with a travelling entertainment service before making the transition into education with a maternity cover role.
Sioned’s passion for performing arts combined with a newly gained appreciation for education inspired her to become a qualified teacher and inspire the next generation of performers through the medium of Welsh.
“I enjoyed my work as a performer but I needed a change. I wanted a role that would allow me to remain in the industry but would give me flexibility to plan for the future. The Open University’s two-year PGCE programme was life-changing because I could work towards my qualification at my own pace, and I didn’t have to give up a job that I had grown to love.”
For Sioned who had spent five years as a traveling performer across the UK, the versatility and stability of the OU’s learning model was crucial. It meant that she could work towards her qualification without putting her career on hold, something that was especially important as her and her husband began building their family.
After qualifying, Sioned secured a position as a drama teacher at a Welsh-language school where she now supports students across a range of year groups. As Head of Drama, she leads creative projects and holds extracurricular classes to help students gain confidence, and explore their potential.
“Watching my students grow not only as performers but as confident individuals is exactly why I do what I do. Some of my students have even gone on to be professional performers” she added. “Helping learners develop their Welsh abilities has been just as rewarding. Seeing them express themselves in their first language on stage and in every day conversations fills me with great pride.”
Sioned’s journey reflects a wider national issue. Wales is facing a growing shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in secondary schools. The number of new secondary teacher trainees has dropped by 50% over the past decade and just 369 teachers qualified in 2024[1] – falling far short of the Welsh Government’s target of 1,000[2].
Subjects like science, maths and Welsh are most affected, and schools in rural and low-income areas are hit hardest. As a result, many schools are reducing curriculum options while existing staff face the pressures of increased class sizes and unsustainable workloads.
The impact of the teacher shortage extends beyond education. Without an adequate number of Welsh-speaking teachers, the Welsh Government’s ambitious target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050 is under threat, affecting the language’s longevity and use in daily life.
Against this backdrop, The Open University in Wales plays a vital role in building a robust and sustainable teaching workforce in Wales. Its flexible, part-time, distance learning allows education professionals to earn qualifications without stepping away from their current jobs – helping to widen the talent pool and support recruitment in hard-to-reach areas.
Since launching its part time and salaried PGCE routes, almost 200 former Open University students are now working as teachers in schools across Wales.
“Accessible and flexible learning is essential to address the challenges facing the education sector.” said Michelle Matheron, Assistant Director, External Affairs at The Open University in Wales. “We’re dedicated to empowering educators to progress in their careers, while continuing to make a difference in communities and school across Wales.”
“As schools across Wales face increasing pressure to recruit and retain qualified staff, alternative routes into teaching are more important than ever. By working in partnership with schools and education leaders across Wales, we’re working to build a stronger and more skilled workforce to ensure that a quality education is available for all students regardless of background or location.”
The Open University in Wales offers professional qualifications in Nursing, Social Work, Teaching and more, helping thousands of learners every year to build careers in essential public services. Its programmes are designed in partnership with employers, giving students the opportunity to gain practical experience alongside their academic studies.
[1] Recruitment and retention – Adroddiad Blynyddol | Annual Report
[2] Recruitment crisis: Wales failing to train enough secondary school teachers | Deeside.com
