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UK government backs new BRIT School in the north of England
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 21 August 2023
Plans by record label trade group BPI to open a new specialist creative school in Yorkshire – basically a BRIT School North – have won the approval of the UK government’s Department For Education. It’s hoped the new school will now open in 2026/2027.
The plan to open a new school in Bradford based on a similar model to the existing BRIT School that operates in Croydon is backed by the BPI – which supports the existing school via its BRIT Trust – as well as the three major record companies and the Day One Trust.
The latter organisation runs two other specialist creative schools in London, East London Arts & Music and the London Screen Academy.
They all confirmed earlier this year that they had put a bid forward to the Department For Education as a part of a highly competitive free school funding process.
The various partners in the scheme say that Bradford is “considered an ideal location for this new school” because “it has a budding creative economy and has been awarded City Of Culture 2025″.
“The school”, they add, “will help to deliver on the legacy commitment of the City Of Culture status and contribute to Bradford’s ten year cultural strategy, which places the creative industries at the heart of their economy”.
Welcoming the government’s decision to back the new school, BPI boss Jo Twist says: “We are delighted with this decision and it is a positive signal that government recognises the critical importance of creative and specialist creative arts education”.
“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”, she goes on.
“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”.
Confirming the decision from the government’s side, Secretary Of State For Education, Gillian Keegan, adds: “Whether on stage, on screen, or behind the scenes, the north is full of creative talent. This announcement will mean more young people will be able to reach their potential, and follow in their footsteps, at the new BRIT School in the north”.
The new BRIT School is also supported by the mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, who says: “This is a fantastic win for the north and supports our ambition to ensure opportunities for all, no matter where you’re from or where you live”.
“The build up to Bradford UK City Of Culture 2025 has already started to inspire the next generation of artists”, she goes on. “And now, with West Yorkshire becoming the home of BRIT School North, more young people can follow in the footsteps of our world-class homegrown artists, from the likes of Mel B and Corinne Bailey Rae to the Kaiser Chiefs”.
