Consent secured for Brit School North in Yorkshire
Plans to establish a northern version of London’s Brit School in Bradford have been given the green light by the Government.
Brit School North will be free to attend for 500 pupils aged 16 to 19 and will provide courses in dance, music and theatre.
The original Brit School in Croydon opened its doors in 1991 and since then has helped launch the careers of stars such as Adele, Amy Winehouse, Tom Holland and Jessie J.
The concept is backed by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Graduates at the London school have between them sold more than 250 million albums and won 15 Brit awards over the past three decades.
The Government says the new northern school will be backed by large music industry firms, including Sony Music Entertainment UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK.
No start date is currently being given, but when the BPI lodged its plans in February, it said it hoped the school could be opened in 2026.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the move will mean more young people in the north of England could reach their potential.
She added the Government is broadening opportunities so more children can “access this springboard to success”.
Jo Twist, who took on the role of chief executive of the BPI in July, said: “The UK is a world-leader in music and across the creative industries and if we want this to continue, we must invest in talent and the highly transferable skills needed for a competitive economy.
“This school will not only focus on producing our next generation of performers, but crucially train young people with the important technical qualities needed for our industries to thrive and provide them with opportunities that they otherwise might not be able to access.”
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