A community of talent
The Brit Performing Arts & Technology School
The BRIT School at Selhurst in South London provides a unique education for over 900 young people who want to choose a career in the arts industries. Students travel from across Greater London and beyond to take advantage of our excellent teaching and facilities.
As the only free performing arts school in the country, we are very different to normal vocational schools, with a very diverse intake of talented kids who would otherwise not have the opportunities to develop their potential in music, musical theatre, dance, theatre, broadcast and digital communication (media), visual arts and design or technical theatre (production). Most students leave for higher education or for employment in the creative industries, having worked for up to four years with like-minded talented enthusiasts. It is a unique place with an eighteen year history of success and innovation.
We once again welcomed more than 5,000 young people to our performances at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon and at the Bloomsbury Theatre in Central London. Our radio station BRIT FM has continued to collaborate with members of the community and local schools. We have supported children from many other schools this year and have taken productions to over 20 venues in our local community as well as performances in London and across Europe.
Our Community Classes continue to prosper. The photography and fashion courses have increased to two classes each and 250 children and young people (aged 8 - 16) are enrolled on almost 600 BRIT Kids and BRIT Youth sessions this Autumn, with a healthy waiting list for most classes. We have also set up classes for adults in theatre (separate beginners and intermediate classes), singing, video post production, digital photography and keep fit.
Our own ‘BRIT Idol’ was again a great success, with the final judged by a panel made up of friends, including John Deacon, our esteemed chair of governors, Adrian Crookes, Darren Michaelson, Jay Mustapha, Rebecca B, Stacey Skeete and Siabhan Dacres. They presented Whitnie Parkes with the winner’s gold disc and £250 for her own original composition.
The School has continued with its recent examination successes. This year 99% of Year 11 students achieved 5 or more A* - C grades in GCSE or their vocational equivalents and at Post-16 98% of students achieved merit or distinction in their BTEC National Diploma, with 85% at distinction, a level only reserved for the best candidates. In addition 100% passed their A Levels, with 86% at A-C. This again places us in the top 1% of state schools in the country.
The Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Unit that is funded by the MITS proceeds has opened for business and is supporting a wide range of local clients of all ages in South London.
We have just completed an ambitious programme of building work funded by The BRIT Trust and the DCSF to allow for expansion of our provision, particularly in music, dance and the digital technologies. This includes a brand new building that was formally opened by Sir George Martin. The event also celebrated the publication of ‘The Importance of Dreaming’, a book and DVD celebrating the history and achievements of the School. It was funded by The BRIT Trust and The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. We are also continuing to support government plans to develop arts education across the country, including the opening of a specialist school in the centre of Birmingham.
The School’s former students continue to impress, notably Leona Lewis, Kate Nash, Adele, Katie Melua, The Kooks, The Feeling, Amy Winehouse, The Noisettes, Imogen Heap, Adelaide McKenzie, Joel Pott of Athlete, Polly Scattergood, Tawiah, Charlene Soraia, Bashy MC, Dockers MC, Jack McManus, Cheery Blackstone and Andre Carol, plus Ace and Invisible, who are now Radio 1 DJ’s.
We are very proud that we can provide this rich experience to so many young people who do not have a privileged background, but recognise this is only possible through the generosity of the BRIT Trust. With these developments we can continue to turn out the singers, sound engineers, stage managers, web-designers, dancers, actors, musicians, marketing gurus and legal advisers of the future, and keep pace with the ever changing demands of the entertainment industry.
We continue to be immensely grateful to this event’s participants for your support for our work.
Again, many thanks for your support.
Nick Williams
Principal
If you would like further information please contact:
Nick Williams at The BRIT School Tel: 020 8665 8628 nick.williams@brit.croydon.sch.uk
or Arthur Boulton Tel:020 8665 8621 aboulton@brit.croydon.sch.uk
Maggie Crowe at the BPI Tel: 020 7803 1300
