Strictly Come Dancing star Rhys Stephenson is an entertainer and CBBC presenter who has shimmied his way into the final four of this year’s competition. 

He took time outof his busy rehearsal schedule in November to chat with Tes about his school days, the teachers who inspired him, memorable trips and why some of his favourite teachers continue to play a role in his life now.

1. Where did you go to primary school?

I went to Pinewood Primary School [now Oasis Academy Pinewood] in Romford, East London, and I loved it.

It was quite a strange primary school in some ways because they mixed the year groups up a bit - Year 1 and Year 2 were in the same classes, and then Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 were in the same classes for certain subjects. But when it came to maths, English and science, it was all separated.

I didn’t realise that was quite a rare thing for a school to do - to me that was just normal. But, overall, I loved it. I was very energetic, quite a happy child, eager to please, a big teacher’s pet … a teacher telling me off was my biggest fear. I just went through always trying to do my best.

2. What are some of your favourite memories of that school?

There was a bush in the playground that you could walk into and that was always our base of operations, no matter what game we were playing: space, pirates, underwater - that was our base.

That was in the infant playground but the junior playground was huge compared to that, so when we got to the juniors we were like, “Oh my God, the ideas …” It was almost like getting an expansion pack in a video game.

Also, the school was surrounded by fields that people would put their horses in, so when we walked to school you could feed the horses with carrots. 

Whenever I mentioned this later on to friends, that there were horses near my school, everyone always thinks it was super posh like Eton or something.

3. Were there any teachers there who you remember well?

Yeah, there were three, actually. There was a teacher called Mrs Kirby who, if anything, was one of the first people to get me into the career that I’m in now because she headed up the school’s drama department. 

I remember my mum suggested that I try drama when I was 10, and the school was doing My Fair Lady. I remember thinking, “This is quite cool,” and seeing the character of Mr Higgins and liking him and saying I would read for that part.

And I remember [Mrs Kirby] saying, “Do you want to go for any other part, just in case you don’t get that part?” But I said, “No, that’s fine. I’ll get the part.” And I did. And so it started me off on the road that I’m on now.

Then there was Miss Bowtell, my headteacher. She was very stern but fair. And I remember there were times when she told me off if I’d been naughty, which really annoyed me because I was always trying to be good. But she was a wonderful woman who I respected a huge deal. 

Lastly there was Miss Knowles, who was everyone’s favourite teacher. She was very young and I think when it’s a young teacher, everyone gravitates towards them. She was really funny, gentle and kind - like Miss Honey from Matilda. Those three teachers were all really cool.

4. Have you spoken to Mrs Kirby again, given the influence she had on your career?

I haven’t spoken to her, no, but I love the idea that she might hear this one day. It’s actually talking to you now that has made me realise what a huge part she played in my life because I love drama and was always into school plays, and the idea of not performing is really weird. So Mrs Kirby was a huge part of that.

5. Did you go on any good school trips or take part in outdoor activities?

There was a forest near us so we went on nature walks, and once we had a ranger lead us around. He led us to tree sap that he said we could lick, so I have a memory of all of us licking trees, which was very odd!

And then there was the big Year 6 trip where you go to a different part of the UK. My year was Scarborough - I think they alternated it with the Isle of Wight.

I loved it. It was really fun - the whole thing of staying up late, the teachers coming in to make sure you’re in bed, pretending you’re asleep. I think we also went to a theme park called Flamingo Land; I’m not sure if it’s still about. It was a nice day.

6. How did you find the move up to secondary school?

I remember being very excited during the summer and I especially remember deciding that I didn’t want backpacks any more - I thought they were so childish. I wanted a side bag because that’s grown up. 

And I remember the excitement of wearing blazers. Most of the time in primary school, you just wear a jumper and suddenly you’re wearing a shirt and blazer and you feel like you’re about to go into the world and do a corporate job, with your bag. I went into Year 7 feeling like I was 30 and I look back at Year 7s now and they are so small.

Overall, though, I remember the first day was such a rush because everything’s new. Everyone’s interesting and exciting. You don’t know what they’re about, everything’s a mystery that you’re trying to solve. 

7. And how did your time at secondary school play out?

I enjoyed secondary school. I never found myself struggling too much, really. There was never any moment of intense bullying or anything like that. I just moseyed through. 

I think performing helped me a lot because I was always doing school plays and talent shows, so I think kids knew me from that. I think that just served me quite well for school.

8. Were there any teachers at secondary school who inspired you?

Yeah, there were two. First was my drama teacher, Lorraine Shorter - she was great. She was very encouraging and she was fun but it was never at the expense of the lesson. She made us buckle down when we needed to but I remember my drama GCSE was one of the most fun things I ever did.

And then the other teacher who inspired me was my headteacher, Mrs Morrison - Mary Morrison - and she was just one of the biggest supporters I ever had. She actually worked with my mum because my mum worked at the school, and they are still very close now.

Mrs Morrison just got me and knew that all I ever wanted to do was a good job and to work hard and to do well for people. And I could always count on her support and her guidance.

9. Have you kept in touch with her since leaving school?

Well, I kept in contact with her for a bit but then when she left the school I fell out of contact with her for years. But then when Strictly happened, my mum said to me, “You should really contact her,” so I did and we’re back in contact now.

She sends me messages of encouragement [for the show]. She said to me, “I’m going to send you messages to uplift you but I’m not expecting anything back. You can message me when you’re ready.” So we occasionally catch up and it’s just really nice that she is still part of my life.

10. Did anything funny happen on your trips at secondary school?

We went to France and it was a really fun trip but there was one point when we were walking around near the Eiffel Tower and suddenly we were next to all these really loved-up couples and we were just standing there not knowing what to do or where to look, thinking, “This is really awkward!”

Rhys Stephenson is an ambassador for the children’s mental health charity Place2Be. You can find out more information about its work at www.place2be.org.uk. He was talking to Dan Worth, senior editor at Tes

This article originally appeared in the 10 December 2021 issue