Exploring Identity and Perception: Buckswood Staff Develop New Skills to Support Student Growth

At Buckswood, we believe that continual learning is key, not just for our students, but for our staff too. In our ongoing commitment to enriching student experience, our teaching team recently took part in a unique workshop designed to enhance communication, empathy, and mutual understanding.

Led by Russell Dean, Artistic Director of the acclaimed Strangeface Theatre Company, the session titled “What Are We Seeing? What Are We Saying?” introduced staff to the creative power of masks in exploring identity and perception. This innovative experience blended elements of theatre, psychology, and neuroscience to help staff reflect on the way we present ourselves – and how we interpret those around us.

Through interactive exercises and playful experimentation, staff were encouraged to challenge assumptions, shift perspectives, and explore the unspoken dynamics that shape every interaction. The workshop shed light on the ‘masks’ we all wear in daily life – those shaped by roles, expectations, and emotions and how these can influence our relationships, particularly with students.

By stepping into new roles and embracing creative vulnerability, staff gained fresh insight into self-expression, active listening, and deeper forms of communication. These are not just abstract ideas, they are practical skills that will directly support our students’ growth, helping us create a more empathetic, thoughtful, and responsive learning environment.

Russell Dean’s thoughtful approach provided a powerful platform for personal and professional development, ensuring that our team is better equipped to guide and connect with students in meaningful ways. This was more than just a workshop, it was a learning opportunity that will ripple through every classroom.

By Arabella Ansar.