The Brit School
Thursday 7 August 2008
What do Leona Lewis, Luke from The Kooks, BBC 1xtra DJs Ace and Vis, Kate Nash, and Kellie Shirley aka Carly from Eastenders have in common? They all went to The BRIT School!
The BRIT School
As Britain's only free Performing Arts and Technology School, the BRIT School is funded by the state and The British Record Industry Trust aka The Brit Awards!
The school for 14-19 year olds pride themselves on being dedicated to education and training for arts, entertainment and communications. So if your passion is in this industry then this could very well be the place for you.
No fame academy
Although the school recognises that most students want to make a career in the arts industries, they still expect all students to follow educational subjects alongside the arts ones.
Students who start attending in Year 10 must follow the national curriculum at Key Stage 4. This is a combination of core GCSE subjects and a ‘strand’ in Broadcast and Digital Communication, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre or Visual Arts & Design
Students who join The Brit School at 16 years old must take the Level 3 two year BTEC National Diploma, which is equivalent to three A Levels.
So what’s it really like?
Whilst there is a strong emphasis on education, the school's main aim is to give talented young people a place to really be themselves.
Gabby, a 17 year old theatre student, agrees, “You can wear whatever you want, you can be who you wanna be.”
The BRIT school students are indeed all unique and come from all walks of life - it’s also not unusual to walk the school corridors and see people playing the guitar, dancing or even singing!
Famous ex students
The BRIT school can count many succesful artists as ex students.
Leona Lewis, X Factor winner and ex BRIT student has said, “It was a great school.” Adele and Kate Nash, who have also found fame after leaving school, showed their appreciation for their old teachers by thanking them in their album notes!
Here are a few more equally famous BRIT school alumnis:
- Amy Winehouse
- Katie Melua
- Imogen Heap
- Adele
- Dan and Richard from The Feeling
- Dane Bowers
- Marsha and Natalie from Floetry
Not everyone who goes to the BRIT school is guaranteed fame though, many ex students have gone on to have careers in very different industries.
Visit the BRIT school website for more details.
