Supporting the Arts at Oasis Academy Brislington

Hi, my name is Emilia and I’ve been working as a Recruitment Consultant for secondary schools across Central and South Bristol at Teaching Personnel for almost a year. 

During my time in the role, I’ve had the opportunity to build strong relationships with many local schools. One partnership that has been particularly rewarding is our ongoing work with the Oasis Academies across Bristol.

Our Partnership with Oasis Academies

Teaching Personnel has proudly supported a number of Oasis schools through a range of initiatives. From attending careers days and donating PE kits to Oasis Daventry Road, to providing continued staffing support across the academies and taking part in trust-wide initiatives such as Happy Hat Day, which helps raise awareness of the importance of mental health support in schools, we’re always keen to get involved in ways that positively impact school communities. 

This partnership recently led to a particularly exciting opportunity for me to support the performing arts at Oasis Academy Brislington. 

My Background in Music and Performance

Alongside my work at Teaching Personnel, music and performance have always been a big part of my life. I hold a degree in Music Production & Songwriting and am classically trained in woodwind, alongside having a strong background in vocals. 

Over the years I’ve worked in music tuition, schools and hosting creative workshops, teaching students aged 5 to 85! My experience ranges from helping students prepare for exams, performances, and university applications, to delivering intervention work with SEND and SEMH students, as well as supporting young people in care and those with physical disabilities. Using music as a positive outlet to grow in personal confidence, express your innermost feelings and feel connected with those who share the same passion. 

Outside of teaching, I’ve also had the pleasure of performing in pit bands for a number of stage productions including Annie, Legally Blonde, Bonnie and Clyde, Othello, and Hairspray.

Supporting Oasis Academy Brislington’s Production 

With my background in the arts, I was keen to offer support to local schools beyond recruitment. After reaching out to several schools about potential community involvement, I was introduced to Ebony Chapman, Head of Drama at Oasis Academy Brislington. 

Together we arranged for me to support the school’s 2026 production of The Addams Family. 

Over the past six months, I’ve had the pleasure of attending weekly afterschool rehearsals every Monday, working alongside the Drama department and a fantastic cohort of students from Years 7–11. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see the production develop week by week, from early rehearsals to the final details of costumes, props and stage direction. I got involved with leadings large groups of around 30 students, running scripts/scenes, coaching students in vocals/song learning, supporting the students with learning choreography and stage placement, as well as being a helping hand wherever possible! 

Teaching Personnel was also proud to contribute £300 towards props, new equipment, and ensuring the production could be professionally recorded, allowing students, particularly those in Year 11, to have a lasting memory of their performance before departing the school for Post-16 studies.

Watching the Final Performance

The final production took place on the evening of 5th May, and it was fantastic to attend alongside my Branch Manager Sean, my colleague on Secondary George, and Jasmine from the Bristol Primary team. 

As we took our seats in the drama studio, the atmosphere was full of excitement and anticipation. From the moment the show began, it was clear just how much hard work had gone into the performance. The stage design, musical numbers, audience interaction, and comedic timing were all fantastic. 

The students were absolutely incredible, and the standing ovation at the end, along with the huge applause, spoke volumes about the quality of the performance. 

It was also inspiring to see the dedication of the staff to creative arts within the school. Ebony has even established the Oasis Academy Theatre School, and the turnout on the night was a true reflection of the support within the community. Parents, staff, students, and friends all came together to celebrate the hard work of the performers. You could really see how much the production meant to the students. There were emotional moments, heartfelt speeches, and plenty of appreciation for the teachers who had supported them throughout the journey. I was also incredibly flattered to receive a shout-out from Ebony in her closing speech, thanking me for my support throughout the rehearsal to performance process. 

Looking Ahead 

Being involved in this production has been such a rewarding experience. It’s been amazing to work closely with the brilliant team at Oasis Academy Brislington and to get to know such talented students with fantastic personalities and dedicated staff. – Best, Emilia.

I wouldn’t hesitate to support the school again in the future, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with Oasis and finding new ways to contribute to their school communities. 

Thank you to everyone at Oasis Academy Brislington for having me, it’s been a pleasure to be part of such a special project.