About this episode

Maria Forryan discusses her diverse teaching career and experiences in various educational settings.

Recorded on 11/06/2026 Maria Forryan is Subject Lead of Drama at Elliott Hudson College. She has also taught A Level Music, BTEC music, GCSE English, EPQ and been a mentor for Trainee teachers whilst working there. Maria has been there for 10 years now, since moving back from Shanghai, and she also works for AQA as an A Level Drama examiner too. Starting her teaching career as Head of Music at a comprehensive school in Oldham, although she also taught Drama - which she definitely preferred. Maria then moved to a very posh private boarding school in Suffolk, which she says, ‘looked like Hogwarts’, there she held the position of director of Drama for 4 years. Fancying somewhere a bit louder and brighter she then took a job as Director of Performing Arts at the British International School in Shanghai before she moved back to the UK with her husband to start a family. They didn't know Leeds well but Maria’s sister lived in Morley and they liked the city from the couple of times they had visited. So, from the other side of the world they decided to move to the best city there is - Leeds. And she’s been here ever since. Additionally, Maria: volunteers as a theatre critic and…

People in this episode

Guest: Maria Forryan

Topics covered

• education
• theatre
• teaching career
• international experience
• family life
• local culture

Keywords

• teaching
• theatre critic
• education
• Leeds
• Shanghai
• A Level Drama
• performing arts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Elliott Hudson College, AQA, Leeds Living

Places: Oldham, Suffolk, Shanghai, Leeds, Leeds Grand, Leeds Playhouse

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