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Congratulations!Congratulations to Brian Ellis, who retired as our Chairman after 12 years in the role. We are delighted that he will remain as a Director and Examiner. Congratulations to Linda Cardigan, who has been appointed our new Chairman; Linda has a long history with New Era, and is looking forward to the exciting challenge of leadership! Congratulations to Miranda Jacobs and Kaye Topping-Smith who have each been awarded awarded an FNEA for their extensive work in Speech and Drama, and their work for New Era. Congratulations to Martine Dunn on her appointment to our Board of Examiners. Congratulations to Jill O'Hare on the forthcoming publication of her first book; an anthology which provides material with a global and multi-cultural background.
September 2008 NEW ERA visit teachers in Northern IrelandNew Era Directors Miranda Jacobs and Kim Ismay were recently invited to attend and present at the Irish Regional Meeting for the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama, which was held in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. Miranda Jacobs, Examinations Director, gave a detailed presentation outlining to teachers the exciting and on-going updating of New Era. In her talk, she gave details of the new web-site, the forthcoming new syllabus including the new Musical Theatre syllabus, and most importantly the excellent progress with our application for accreditation and therefore the granting of UCAS points attached to our higher grades. The following is an extract from Miranda’s presentation:
Kim Ismay, an experienced actor in Musical Theatre, who has just finished a year of starring in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, led teachers and students in a Musical Theatre Workshop.
Kim Ismay taking the group through some exercises during her Musical Theatre Workshop
Kim Ismay, New Era Academy, Patricia Mulligan, Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama and Miranda Jacobs, New Era Academy.
The Retirement of New Era Chairman – Brian Ellis
Sadly New Era’s Chairman, Brian Ellis has decided it is time for him to step down from his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He has fulfilled this role with charm, tact and humility for over 12 years. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his leadership and hard work throughout that time. He has overseen several changes of personnel and offices, and been involved in implementing changes during this time, whilst making sure that New Era’s special ethos has been maintained. He will be a hard act to follow! Brian became an Examiner for New Era in 1980. He fitted this role alongside his stage, television and radio commitments as an actor. He was subsequently invited to join the Board of Directors and then in 1996 he was appointed Chairman, since when he has worked tirelessly for the Academy. We are delighted that he will continue working with us both as a Director and as an Examiner. To mark this occasion, and as a token of our appreciation the Board of Directors presented him with a David Austen rose in a large ceramic pot to go in his delightful garden. We are sure you will all join with us in saying a huge “thank you, Brian”! Appointment of New ChairmanLinda Cardigan on her appointment as Chairman writes: I am deeply honoured and delighted to be appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors for the New Era Academy. I have a long history with New Era as a student, parent, teacher, examiner and director, and have a deep rooted belief in the Academy’s philosophy and ethos, and see this as an essential ingredient of New Era which I am keen to maintain. I am totally committed to the development of New Era as a professional, innovative Exam Board that offers support, opportunity and excellence to its students and to its teachers. In order to provide this I believe we need to keep ourselves informed with both current educational thinking, and developments imposed by Government and the Department of Education. This will enable us to be in a position to implement the necessary changes required in order to offer a contemporary, relevant syllabus which is both accessible and challenging. It is an enormous privilege and responsibility to be in a position to lead, support and encourage all those involved with New Era, as we update and move forward. I believe with a passion that through our diverse syllabus we not only offer students the opportunity to create, communicate, experiment, have fun and express themselves but we are assist them to develop skills for life.
February 2008
James Patrick honoured by the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama:
November 2006
Derek Sander ANEA
It was with great sadness that the Academy learned of the recent death of Derek Sander. He was an inspiring and dedicated Speech and Drama teacher and a staunch supporter of New Era, along with his wife Joy. “Sandy” spent most of the Second World War in the Navy, a time which he loved and enjoyed reminiscing about when given the opportunity. He was a brilliant raconteur and entertainer. He and Joy moved to Southampton in 1959 and set up their, “Sander Theatre School” where they taught together for over forty years until their retirement, which was only a few years ago. As a teacher he was inspiring; always kind and encouraging, sharing his vast knowledge and experience with his many pupils. He even taught three generations of some families! I do not ever remember him chiding me when I had quite clearly not learnt my lines, or accidentally on purpose not done any research on my playwright. I am so glad he was my mentor guiding and encouraging me to pursue my career, always there with the right supportive word. “Sandy” was a gentleman in the true sense of the word, he always looked dapper, and was warm, thoughtful and charming to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed. Everyone at the Academy would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to Joy, their daughter Lynne and son-in-law, Nigel.
November 2005
From “Speech and Drama” – The Journal of the STSD The Retirement of Sonia Collyer, LGSM, LNEA, LLAM (Act.) New Era Academy Examiner Sonia Collyer, LGSM, LNEA, LLAM (Act.), recently spent three days at Stroud School, Romsey, examining her last official list of 141 candidates. The children at Stroud made a small presentation to mark her retirement, and the 30 years she has been visiting the school, from time to time as an Examiner for the New Era Academy and also as an adjudicator of various competitions at the school. Sonia was taught by the charismatic Peggy Law, who encouraged her to become an examiner. She started examining in 1974, and has examined in various locations all over the country, including both Northern and Southern Ireland and Holland. A member of STSD, she was Regional Representative for West Hampshire, South Wiltshire and Dorset (now Region 8) for 10 years. As a teacher her experiences have been many and varied, from preparing individuals for auditions, private teaching, teaching groups of various sizes, directing plays for the local church, New Milton Arts Centre and The New Forest Players. Sonia has a huge sense of fun and has produced numerous family productions with her husband Mike, 3 sons and 7 grandchildren, especially at Christmas time! She laughingly hints that her sons' future wives were put through their paces "in character"!
Sonia Collyer, LGSM, LNEA, LLAM (ACT.), MSTSD, Examiner for New Era Academy, receives retirement gifts from candidates at Stroud School, Romsey. (left to right) George Berridge, Joshua Pashley, Sonia Collyer, Tom Cotton and Head of School, Jimmy Morris.
January 2005
Former Stroud School pupil, Ben Manser, has won a National prize from the New Era Academy of Speech and Drama for gaining the highest mark in the country in his Junior Medal Mime Grade Exam. New Era Academy present Certificates of Excellence, and a prize of a book token, to pupils gaining the highest marks nationally in three different Drama disciplines each year. This is a tremendous achievement for Ben, who had to demonstrate a range of Mime skills, and present his own narrative mime for the exam last year. Ben, who is now at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, was taught by Stroud’s Director of Drama, Linda Cardigan, who presented him with his award at the school’s recent end of term Prize Giving and Assembly.
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