Barbara Speake stage school.

[Inmyownlittlecorner]

Does anyone have any experience of the Barbara Speake stage school?
We’ve been looking around for Secondary schools & this is in our local area. The Ofsted reports are not great, but I was wondering if anyone in here has any first hand knowledge of the school please?

Don’t do it. I work with children in performing arts and the only specialist school I would send a child to at 11 would be White Lodge or Tring Park - and that’s only if they are talented dancers.

The academic standards at the school are poor. Now I know talented children may struggle with academia BUT you need decent GCSEs in English and Maths. This is even more important if you wish to have a career on the stage where you need a backup career.

Their students hardly go on to good colleges for 16+ education, so even the level of performance training doesn’t cut the mustard.

I, personally, would avoid sending any child down such a narrow route at 11. By the time they are 16 they will have a much clearer idea of where they are going in life and also the level of talent.

Thanks @Zodlebud. I’ve. Looked around it & although the children seemed happy, the levels of acedamia did seem pretty low.

Of course they’re happy - they are only in formal lessons three days a week