Stagecoach Theatre Arts, incorporated in the UK, was founded in 1988 by Stephanie Manuel and David Sprigg and it now operates the UK's largest network of part-time performing arts schools for young people aged between 4 and 19, with over 38,000 students world-wide.

	Founded in 1988 with three schools in Surrey
	By 1993 the business had grown to 24 managed schools
	Sale of the first three franchises in 1994
	Early Stages, classes for 4 to 6 year olds, launched in 1997
	From 1995 to 1999 Stagecoach schools opened in Malta, USA, Germany and Australia
	In 2000 Stagecoach wins the prestigious Sir Bernard Ingham Trophy for business
	franchising
	SportsCoach launched in April 2001
	Listed on AIM in December 2001
	Acquired 100% USA subsidiary in June 2002
	Acquired 90% German subsidiary in July 2003
	First USA franchisee in September 2003
	First German franchisee in September 2004
	First Mini Stages franchisee in September 2004
	Launch of Early Sporties in April 2005
	Launch of the on-line shop, www.stagecoachshop.co.uk, in 2008
	Launch of Stagecoach Greece in April 2008
	Stagecoach pays a maiden interim dividend of 0.5 pence per share, final dividend of 2 pence per share

Stagecoach Theatre Arts teaches children skills for life, such as confidence and communication, through the performing arts. Each "Stagecoach school", operated under franchise by the school principal, runs for 3 hours, typically at a weekend, from rented premises, with three teachers, and up to 45 students. Each week every student is taught one hour of dance, one hour of drama and one hour of singing.

	Profit before tax up 2.7% to £726,000 (2008: £707,000)
	Franchise network fees up 3.2% to £29.4 million (2008: £28.5 million)
	Earnings Per Share increased by 3.9% to 5.3p (2008: 5.1p)
	Dividends of 2.5p per share (2008:2p)