At specialist music, drama, dance or performing arts schools, the arts aren't optional extras. They are intrinsic to the school curriculum. Students are expected to fit in high level training and hours of practice alongside a full academic provision.
It's a lot to ask any child to take on, but for those with exceptional performing ability this kind of education can be transformative.
Do you have a talented child?
As proud parents, we all know our children are unique. Obviously. They're smarter, funnier, more attractive and above all bursting with talent. Move over Sheku Kanneh-Mason and make way for the big guns.
Many children go through a spell of wanting to be movie stars or pop idols and given how much of both they see on television, this is entirely natural. But a genuine gift is something else. What if your child shows real promise and passion?
A school to develop your child's performing arts ability?
Children whose talents are exceptional will almost certainly be pursuing their chosen discipline outside of school in the evenings and at Saturday schools. And for such children, life at a mainstream school can be challenging. It’s not uncommon for aspiring musicians to be up at 5am every day to practise before school starts. Committed dancers might attend dance class several evenings a week after putting in a full day at school. Would-be actors can find their school unsympathetic to time off for auditions and rehearsals. And all may spend their school days feeling like a fish out of water.
For children like these, full time specialist schools can offer the best of both worlds, providing a sound academic education alongside rigorous vocational training with like-minded classmates. Like any other school, specialist schools offer open mornings, so visit some if you can. If it’s the right place, your child will feel they've come home the moment they walk through the door.
Be aware, though, that most specialist performing arts schools can’t offer the range of academic subjects that a mainstream school will provide; for instance, there may be only one language taught. There’s also unlikely to be a lot of sport going on. And while many specialist schools are renowned for excellent pastoral care, your child will nonetheless be expected to work hard and behave well. They are being trained for a fiercely competitive environment, and professional standards will be required of them from the start.
Choosing a specialist performing arts school
No two performing arts schools are alike. Some specialise in classical music training, some in classical ballet, others in drama and musical theatre. Some will act as an agency and find their pupils professional work, others won’t encourage anything that takes their students out of school. Some will be fine with their pupils continuing at their existing Saturday classes, others won’t allow this. Some receive funding from the government, some don’t get anything. Where do you start?
Competition for places.
Expect competition to be intense. Specialist schools are on the lookout for exceptional ability and potential and the selection process is likely to involve at least two rounds of auditions, plus interviews and academic tests. A good performing arts school won’t take pupils just to fill up places, so some year groups will be smaller than others.
Music and dance scheme - specialist funding
Music and Dance Scheme |
|---|
| Music schools |
| Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester |
| The Purcell School, Hertfordshire |
| Wells Cathedral School, Somerset |
| The Yehudi Menuhin School, Surrey |
| St Mary's Music School*, Edinburgh |
| Dance schools |
| Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham |
| The Hammond School, Chester |
| Royal Ballet School, London |
| Tring Park School, Hertfordshire |
The UK government runs a national Music and Dance Scheme which enables truly talented children to secure substantial financial help (sometimes 100 per cent of fees) at specialist schools. As almost all specialist performing arts schools are fee-paying - The BRIT School being a notable exception - these means-tested grants allow children who come from less wealthy backgrounds to receive a specialist performing arts education. Boarding at these schools may be essential if you live some distance away and this can push annual fees well above £40,000.
There are eight specialist independent schools in England - see adjacent table - all judged to be leaders in their field, which can offer places funded (or part-funded) by the state as part of the scheme. The grants are available for young musicians and dancers (but not actors) and are accessed as part of the admissions process to the school. Most of the Music and Dance Scheme schools are reviewed by The Good Schools Guide. Scotland's Aided Places Scheme, supported by the Scottish government, runs along similar lines to the Music and Dance Scheme and funds (or part-funds) places at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh.
Performing arts scholarships and bursaries
Many senior schools offer some kind of fee assistance for children with particular performing arts talents. Our article on scholarships and bursaries explains more. Some specialist performing arts schools mentioned above are also able to offer bursaries and scholarships although the level of these will vary.
Choir schools
For younger children with musical talent and an enthusiasm for singing, a choristership at a cathedral choir school provides ample opportunity to hone musical skills alongside a mainstream education. Most choir schools are private schools and a place in the choir tends to come with a scholarship worth 20% to 50% of the school fees. A choristership is a huge commitment for children and their families but it provides the opportunity of a prep school education at a more affordable price.
Music, dance and drama in mainstream schools
If the whole concept of specialist schools leaves you overwhelmed, it's worth remembering that there's some top-notch arts provision to be found in mainstream education. Many independent schools have superb facilities for the arts and a proud tradition of excellence. And though large parts of the state system are an artistic desert, there are oases of extraordinary achievement despite cuts in government funding. Always check out what your local school has to offer.
And it’s also worth noting that all the reviews on our website contain information about a school’s provision of music, dance and drama.
Photo credit: ArtsEd Day School & Sixth Form
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