Katie thirteen and is finding it hard to fit in at school. Since starting at secondary school, she feels like he’s grown up a lot but also is in the deep end socially. There are lots of new people in her life as her secondary school is much bigger than her primary school but she’s found it hard to fit in with any particular group. She doesn’t always feel seen or understood at school or home and she wishes she had an opportunity to meet some other kids her age who have more similar interests.

Katie joins her first Stagecoach class and sees that they are in a small group of seventeen other students around her age. Some have been at Stagecoach for years and some are also new to the class, like Katie.

Over the course of the classes which are split into the three individual disciplines of singing, dancing and acting, Katie has the opportunity to collaborate and work with different students in the class. Some Katie knows from their secondary school and some Katie has never met before. Katie really enjoys the opportunity to make new friends as they chat in small groups over break time.

Her time at Stagecoach gives Katie a sense of community and helps her make more friends with others that she has something in common with. She also finds her social and communication skills improve from being in the Stagecoach environment. Her drama classes also improve her empathy which helps her connect with those around her outside of Stagecoach too.