Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the Year: Flo Whitcombe
Sponsored by Mad Cakes
Nominated by Donna Sharpe
Flo Whitcombe teaches performance and arts in a way that is transformational to her students at Southbrook School, Exeter. Southbrook caters for 120 children with complex needs and abilities, who come from all over Devon to work hard, respect one another and enjoy life. And there they meet Flo, who trained at Dartington College of Arts and Rolle College and who embraces the children’s specific needs so they can benefit from performance arts.
Donna told us how she’s seen children who can’t speak or make eye contact engage with pride in school performances, singing their heart out or dancing with passion, where previously their disabilities may have held them back.
As well as teaching at Southbrook, Flo runs a children’s theatre company in Teignmouth and is a member of a five-piece acoustic band, Honey Rider.
