drama or performing art school london

[bizzzeemom]

our DD is currently in Year 6 and has a strong interest and aptitude in drama/performing art . She holds an excellent reference from her drama teacher and is among the top academic performers in her cohort. We live in South London and are seeking guidance on independent schools that can support and develop her drama talent and helping with drama opportunities while also decent focus on academics...do we have school like these ? inde

Emanuel and Alleyns are both highly rated for drama in terms of indies.

Have friends with children at both.

Emanuel has drama scholarships - friend's kid who was awarded one did have West End and TV credits by Y6, so they are very competitive.

In a different area to you but all the independent schools near me have excellent drama facilities including own theatres and experienced drama teachers who know how to get best from kids. Most are academically selective so would be pushing exam results too. I do know a child who went from prep school to a drama school in London but I wondered if it was really worth it in case he changed mind later about drama as a career. If you do some research on independent schools near you I’m sure you’ll find several with excellent drama departments with kids in west end shows etc.

King Alfred School have their own theatre.

Queenswood I think is also excellent for drama.

If you want performing arts schools as opposed to normal schools with good drama depts, then the options are:

Tring Park in Tring, Herts
Sylvia Young Theatre School
Arts Ed

IMHO, I wouldn't send a child to a PA school for secondary unless it was classical ballet that they were interested in.

Normal state school and high level 1:1 / audition-entry training schools at weekends is probably better in terms of actual training.

A lot of the PA school kids are doing just as much outside school too - they don't get 1:1 at school so have to pay for singing lessons etc on top.

Things like West End and theatre end at 13 or 5ft, so it's not even that helpful in terms of time of school being approved. And then kids are in deadzone for 14-16 (and realistically 18+ nowadays).