Stagecoach Performing Arts School Cardiff has re-opened its doors to students this weekend thanks to support from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) via NatWest.
The school was forced to shut-down in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has used the BBLS funding to support its plans to re-open to more than 140 students as soon as possible.
Stagecoach officially opened its doors on 19 September with new social distancing measures in place to ensure the health and safety of all staff and students.
Measures include the introduction of new allocated ‘bubbles’ which place students in groups to prevent mixing and limit unnecessary contact, and reduced class sizes. The school has also installed hand sanitisers, masks for staff, staggered start/finish times and increased signage to enforce social distancing for all students, teachers and visitors.
Owner Kate Davies bought the Cardiff franchise of the global Stagecoach network, after securing a funding package from NatWest. Kate had been running the business for three months before lockdown required her to close the school and pause the teaching of its students.
Stagecoach Performing Arts is a network of part-time performing art schools across the globe teaching children between the ages of four and 18 years old. Founded in 1988 the franchise has grown to a 350-strong group of schools teaching more than 1 million children through weekly classes and holiday workshops.
Owner Kate said: “The reopening of the school has been many months in the making. We have gone through extensive research to make sure we open with the safest of measures whilst ensuring our children still get a great learning experience. Although we provided online classes during the lockdown period, which students and staff thoroughly enjoyed, it isn’t the same as being in class and seeing the student’s faces light up during their first lessons back was priceless.”
Andrew Tummon, NatWest Relationship Manager, said: “Kate has left no stone unturned with the implementation of these new safety measures at the school. It’s great to see it back up and running and I’m sure the children are enjoying their classes now more than ever.”
