Sheila Cornall

is Classic FM Secondary School Music Teacher of the Year 2011

Music plays an enormously enriching part of life at Wycombe High School providing many girls with skills such as confidence, self esteem, team work, creativity and of course wonderful memories.

Most students are involved with the performing arts at Wycombe High in some way, whether as a performer, or a back stage hand, a technician, part of the sales and marketing team, or watching and supporting her peers at our many events.

Our students are fortunate to enjoy a huge choice of music-related clubs and activities which take place during lunchtime and after school.  This is due in no small part to Mrs Sheila Cornall, our Director of Music.  Since she joined the school over 14 years ago she has organised many and varied musical activities, competitions and concerts.  

Sheila also organises a music tour each year giving approximately one hundred girls the opportunity to travel to a European country and perform concerts to members of the public. This provides an unforgettable adventure for girls across all year groups, giving them a flavour of what life as a professional musician is like.  Many of them take part in this trip several times during their Wycombe High School career.

Photo Credit: Richard Johnson © Classic FM


Photo Credit: Roger Smth

To quote some of her students:

“Mrs Cornall has become Classic FM Secondary School Music Teacher of the Year for the simple reason that, in the eyes of anyone who knows her, she is simply a legend”.

“Everyone who takes music looks forward to every lesson and when they get there it is the highlight of the day by far.”

“Mrs C is the best teacher anyone could ever wish for”

However, Mrs Cornall remains modest, despite all the praise given to her from parents, colleagues and the students themselves. She has inspired so many girls over the years, and we are all delighted that she has been recognized nationally for her dedication.

Sheila constantly states “it was all the girls” and indeed any musical performance depends on commitment, hard toil and above all, teamwork. However, at the heart of every successful team is an inspirational leader who is a huge part of every performance and who is prepared to go that ‘extra mile’ for her students and colleagues.

It is befitting that Sheila’s hard work is recognised in the year that Wycombe High School has launched a fundraising campaign to replace the old, cramped and outdated music block with a new and spacious Performing Arts Centre. Sheila has a major role in helping lead this fund raising campaign titled ‘Play your Part’. She has helped set up a series of concerts and musical events to raise the profile of this campaign and to secure funding. For more information about these events and the campaign please click here.

Finally, in the words of a student, “Mrs Cornall is fantastic and without her our school lives wouldn’t have that spark in them that is music.”