Nick Bissessar

Head of Drama

Talent

London, Greater LondonMember since 25 February 2026

Drama DirectionCurriculum DevelopmentStaff Leadership and ManagementTheatre ProductionAcademic Monitoring and AssessmentStrategic PlanningBudget ManagementICT SkillsHealth and Safety ComplianceCross-curricular CollaborationDigital LearningWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationTeam Building and MotivationPastoral SupportInnovative Teaching and LearningUCAS Application Support

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Drama DirectionCurriculum DevelopmentStaff Leadership and ManagementTheatre ProductionAcademic Monitoring and Assessment

About

In the last year, I have been the Head of Drama at Palmers Green High School, a leading independent girls’ school in North London. As the sole practitioner across the entire school, I have reformed and tailored a skills-based curriculum from EYFS through GCSE. This opportunity to redesign the curriculum has enabled me to take a whole-school overview of Drama delivery, refining and updating schemes of work, play scripts, and practical projects to ensure pupils develop the key skills required at each stage.

I have also prioritised modernising material so that it reflects current global themes, celebrates diversity, and aligns with the culture and values of the school. Alongside this, I have collaborated with colleagues across the Prep and Lower School to develop a ‘Creative Curriculum’ a holistic, cross-curricular approach that enriches pupils' study of novels, themes, poetry, and historical periods through Drama. I also teach English across KS3, and help to support the preparation and delivery of the curriculum.

Experience

Head of Drama (current), Head of Year, Head of House, Secondary Drama and English teacher, EPQ mentor, Form Tutor, LAMDA teacher

Head of Drama: responsible for leading the department team across both curriculum and extra-curriculum drama. The role involved coordinating a creative team on large-scale musical productions; organising and running rehearsals, working with designers, choreographers and theatre management team in delivering a series of professional standard productions in the 350 seat Ryan Theatre, Harrow. Updating and coordinating a skill-based drama curriculum that develops the performance attributes required to succeed at A-level and GCSE.

Ensuring that there is a through line link between KS5, KS4 and KS3, with an emphasis on developing and fostering an appreciation of theatre, art, and wider social, cultural, historical, moral and political links. Building links with the John Lyon Preparatory School, Quainton Hall and establishing links with the KS2 curriculum.

Head of Year: responsible for managing a team of 6 tutors and working closely with the Deputy Head Pastoral to ensure the cohort of 145 second year students are offered the right emotional and academic support to promote success. To manage the conduct of the cohort and to liaise with parents regarding any behavioural discrepancies.

Head of House: Responsible for managing and running an exciting programme of house events for students across all year groups.

Drama teacher: teaching a bold, exciting drama curriculum through all age groups from ages 11 to 18. Lessons aim to cover a number of disciplines and a comprehensive exploration of the key stages in the development of contemporary drama and theatre. At GCSE and A-level a greater emphasis is placed on the exploration of some of the most influential practitioners in modern theatre, including Stanislavski’s system, Brecht, and more physical groups such as Gecko and DV8.

English teacher: the delivery of an exciting and engaging English curriculum which includes the reading of short-stories, a core novel or work of fiction and the inclusion of a Shakespeare text. Preparation is undertaken for the Cambridge IGCSE Language exam consisting of language tasks, content, structural precision and honing writing technique. The year culminates in both a creative and analytical poetry scheme of work.

Directing: Involves preparing a suitable and appropriately cut script before conducting auditions and casting sessions. To oversee the overall vision of the production and coordinate with other members of the department including designers and lighting technicians. The role includes the organisation and preparation of rehearsals which takes place as part of an extra-curricular activity.