{{Short description|British school for performing arts and technology}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2022}} {{Use British English|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox school | name = The BRIT School Limited | logo = Logo of the BRIT School.svg | coordinates = {{coord|51.3899|-0.0914|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}} | other_name = The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology | motto = | established = {{Start date and age|df=y|1991|10|22}}<ref name="SchoolInfo">{{Cite web |url=https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/101849 |title=BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology | work=gov.uk}}</ref> | closed = | type = City Technology College | religious_affiliation = | head_label = Principal | head = Stuart Worden<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.musicweek.com/opinion/read/stuart-worden-celebrates-30-years-of-the-brit-school/084206 | title=Stuart Worden celebrates 30 years of the BRIT School | work=Music Week | date=24 September 2021}}</ref> | r_head_label = | r_head = | chair_label = | chair = | chairman = Josh Berger | founder = | trust = The BRIT Trust | specialist = | address = The Crescent | city = Croydon | country = England | postal_code = CR0 2HN | local_authority = London Borough of Croydon | ofsted = yes | urn = 101849 | staff = ~170 | enrollment = 1419 | years_taught = Year 10 - Year 13/14 (theatre) | gender = Mixed | lower_age = 14 | upper_age = 19 | houses = | colors = | publication = | website = {{URL|https://brit.croydon.sch.uk}} }} thumb|Beatles Gig (Music) thumb|The BRIT School in 2024 thumb|right|Dance Vision (Dance) thumb|right|Steer The Stars (Musical Theatre) [[File:Stuart Worden.jpg|thumb|Stuart Worden, Principal of the BRIT School, at the SXSW London festival hosted in London, England during June 2025]] '''The BRIT School''' (British Record Industry Trust) is a selective free-to-attend performing and creative arts secondary school in Selhurst, Croydon, England, with a mandate to provide education and vocational training for the performing arts, music, music technology, theatre, musical theatre, dance, applied theatre, production arts, creative arts, film and media production, digital arts, visual arts and design. The school has many notable alumni.
The school opened on 22 October 1991 under the City Technology College programme and is separate from the local education authority. The Department for Education provides 71% of the school's funding and the remainder comes from fundraising and commercial income, including contributions by the British Record Industry Trust (BRIT) and proceeds from broadcasting rights to the annual Brit Awards.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/celebrity/article/inside-the-brit-school-twwtd03vk | title=Inside the Brit School, churning out stars like Amy Winehouse and Lola Young for 35 years | first=Roisin | last=Kelly | work=The Times | date=21 February 2026}}</ref> About 90% of its students are from London.<ref name=25years>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-40586369 | title=Britain's 'fame' school celebrates 25 years | work=BBC News | date=14 July 2017}}</ref>
The school has two professional theatres, the Obie Theatre, which can seat audiences of up to 324 and standing audiences up to 500; and the BRIT Theatre, which opened in January 2012 and seats audiences of up to 280. There are also various dance studios, musical theatre studios, and TV and radio studios.
==History== The BRIT School was founded by Mark Featherstone-Witty, who was inspired by Alan Parker's 1980s film ''Fame'' to create a secondary school specialising in the performing arts to help students enter the industry, which at that time had many barriers.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://observer.co.uk/culture/music/article/the-high-flying-brit-school-graduates-who-hit-the-big-time | title=The high-flying Brit School graduates who hit the big time | first=Phoebe | last=Davis | work=The Observer | date=1 March 2026}}</ref>
He asked Sir Richard Branson to fund the school; Branson agreed on the condition that other record companies also contributed. Funding was received from the British Phonographic Industry.
George Martin helped design its recording studio.<ref name=25years/>
The school was also supported by Margaret Thatcher's City Technology College initiative.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/sep/02/brit-school-artistic-legacy | title=‘Adele gave us hope’: the inside story of the Brit School | first=Michael | last=Cragg | work=The Guardian | date=2 September 2022}}</ref>
In June 1990, the Knebworth Festival, organized by Richard Branson, raised £2.5 million for the school with a festival attended by 120,000 people that featured performances by Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Genesis, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Elton John, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Cliff Richard, and Tears for Fears.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/croydons-got-talent-r95jq2zdb33 | title=Croydon’s got talent | first=Richard | last=Johnson | work=The Times | date=10 July 2011}}</ref>
Elizabeth II visited the school in 2002.<ref name=25years/>
In 2012, in a £5 million expansion, the school acquired and renovated part of the adjacent former Selhurst High School building. Three new courses, Production Arts, Interactive Digital Design (now known as Digital Arts) and Community Arts Practise (now Applied Theatre) were introduced.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/9771177.brit-school-in-south-norwood-celebrates-expansion/ | title=BRIT School in South Norwood celebrates expansion | first=Nick | last=Hitchens | work=Your Local Guardian | date=20 June 2012}}</ref>
Former principal Sir Nick Williams was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to education.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.musicweek.com/news/read/new-year-honours-brit-school-s-nick-williams-knighted/052997 | title=New Year Honours: Brit School's Nick Williams knighted | first=Thomas | last=Drone | work=Music Week | date=29 December 2012}}</ref>
By 2017, alumni of the school had sold a combined 125 million albums.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/brit-school-celebrates-125-million-album-sales/069959 | title=BRIT School celebrates 125 million album sales | first=Andre | last=Paine | work=Music Week | date=28 September 2017}}</ref>
YouTube Music funded a Television Studio that opened in 2019 for Film & Media Production students.<ref>{{Cite web |title='We're passionate about the work of The BRIT School': YouTube Music funds studios for students |url=https://www.musicweek.com/digital/read/we-re-passionate-about-the-work-of-the-brit-school-youtube-music-funds-studios-for-students/075400 | first=Andre | last=Paine | work=Music Week | date=22 February 2019}}</ref> This was in response to the student-run show "'''The BRIT Live'''" which airs on the BRIT School's YouTube channel, giving the students their own studio and control room for broadcasting.
In 2022, the school was awarded a PRS for Music heritage award for shaping UK Art and culture for 30 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=The BRIT School: Shaping UK arts and culture for 30 years | url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/the-brit-school-shaping-uk-arts-and-culture-for-30-years | last=Konemann |first=Liam | work=PRS for Music |date=3 August 2022}}</ref>
==Entry requirements== Entry to any of the school's courses is initially by application. If applicants meet the initial entry criteria, they may then be invited to interview or workshop in their chosen focus (strand) (either film and media production (FMP), Applied Theatre, dance, digital arts, music, music technology, musical theatre, production arts, theatre, or visual arts & design), for sixth-form entry students, plus a meeting with relevant tutors. Entry to the music course also includes aural and music theory tests and an audition, with entry to the dance, theatre, visual art & design, and musical theatre courses also including audition rounds. The school is known for being selective in its admissions and though it has a large catchment area, students outside this area are granted a place only if they show unusual merit.
An article by BBC News published in 2011 discussed whether students who are accepted by the school get an unfair advantage in creative arts industries over those who did not.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-15617811 |title=Do Brit School graduates have an unfair advantage? | first=Liam | last=Allen | work=BBC News | date=9 November 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410073904/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15617811 |archive-date=10 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Curriculum== Even though most students intend to make a career in the arts, entertainment and communications industries, they must follow full-time courses to completion.
The school teaches the following courses: {| class="wikitable" !Strand/Course !Int. !KS4 !Post-16 !Year 14 !Notes |- ! colspan="6" |<small>Creative Arts</small> |- |Film & Media Production |FMP |✓ |✓ | |formerly 'Media, Art & Design' and 'Broadcast and Digital Communication' |- |Digital Arts |DA |✓ |✓ | |formerly 'Interactive Digital Design'<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.brit.school/news/?pid=6&nid=2&storyid=304 | date=2025-05-25 |title=The Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology}}</ref> Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, 3D Art, Typography |- |Visual Arts & Design |VAD |✓ |✓ | |split into Fashion, Styling and Textiles |- |Production Arts |PA | |✓ | |formerly 'Production Arts & Technology' and 'Technical Theatre Arts' |- ! colspan="6" |<small>Performing Arts</small> |- |Theatre | |✓ |✓ |✓ |year 14 students are required to be internal post-16 students to apply |- |Music | |✓ |✓ | | |- |Music Technology | | |✓ | | |- |Musical Theatre |MT |✓ |✓ | | |- |Dance | |✓ |✓ | | |- |Applied Theatre |AT | |✓ | |formerly 'Community Arts Practice' (changed 2022) |}
==Notable alumni== {{further|:Category:People educated at the BRIT School}} {{div col|colwidth=15em|small=yes}} Notable alumni include:<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife/11-famous-former-pupils-you-432659 | title=11 of the most famous people who studied at Croydon's BRIT School | last=Truelove | first=Sam | work=The Croydon Advertiser | date=13 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/brit-school-tutored-adele-sell-star-making-skills-to-businesses-266308 | title=BRIT School which tutored Adele sells star-making skills to business | first=Adam | last=Sherwin | work=The i Paper | date=6 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/brit-school-brit-is-born-concerts/ | title=BRIT School Shines On With Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney Covers At ‘BRIT Is Born’ 30th Anniversary Concerts | first=Paul | last=Sexton | work=Universal Music Group | date=20 December 2021}}</ref> * Ace and Vis (TV/radio presenters) * Adele (singer-songwriter) * Amy Winehouse (singer-songwriter) * Ashley Madekwe (actor) * Archie Madekwe (actor) * Bashy (rapper/actor) * Billie Black (singer) * Black Midi (band) * Blake Harrison (actor) * Breakage (musician) * Cat Burns (singer) * Cash Carraway (screenwriter/showrunner) * Cat Sandion (presenter) * Charlene Soraia (singer) * Cormac Hyde-Corrin (actor, filmmaker) * Cush Jumbo (actor) * Dan Gillespie Sells of the band The Feeling * Dane Bowers (singer-songwriter and former member of Another Level) * Deelee Dubé (jazz vocalist, songwriter, and poet) * Ella Eyre (singer-songwriter) * Eman Kellam (presenter) * Emily Head (actor) * FKA Twigs (singer-songwriter and dancer) * Freya Ridings (singer) * Gemma Cairney (radio presenter) * Geordie Greep (musician) * Gracie McGonigal (actress) * Harrison Osterfield (actor and model) * Imogen Heap (singer) * Jade Bird (singer) * Jamie Isaac (singer-songwriter) * Jamie Woon (singer) * Jessica Morgan (singer) * Jessie J (singer-songwriter) * Joel Pott (singer/frontman of Athlete) * Joivan Wade (actor) * Jvck James (singer-songwriter) * Kae Tempest (spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright) * Kate Nash (singer-songwriter) * Karis Anderson (singer and member of Stooshe) * Katie Melua (singer-songwriter) * Katy B (singer-songwriter) * Kellie Shirley (actor) * King Krule (singer) * Laura Angela Collins (poet, producer, author) * Laura Dockrill (poet, author and illustrator) * Leona Lewis (singer-songwriter) * Lola Young (singer-songwriter) * Benjamin Coyle-Larner (rapper, under the stage name Loyle Carner) * Luke Pritchard (singer) * Lynden David Hall (singer) * Marsha Ambrosius (singer-songwriter and member of Floetry) * Maya Delilah (singer and guitarist) * Nancy Sullivan (actress) * Natalie Stewart (singer and member of Floetry) * Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (actor) * Octavian (rapper) * Olivia Dean (singer) * Percelle Ascott (actor) * Polly Scattergood (singer) * Rachel Chinouriri (singer) * Raine Allen-Miller (film director) * RAYE (singer-songwriter) * Rex Orange County (singer-songwriter/producer) * Rhianne Barreto (actress) * Richard Jones of the band The Feeling * Rickie Haywood Williams (presenter, Kiss FM) * Rizzle Kicks (hip hop duo) * Robert Emms (actor) * Róisín Mullins, (dancer and presenter) * Shawn Emanuel (singer) * Shelby Logan Warne (singer and multi-instrumentalist) * Shingai Shoniwa of the band Noisettes (singer) * Stuart Matthew Price (singer) * Tania Foster (singer) * Talia Mar (singer and Internet personality) * Tara McDonald (singer) * Tom Holland (actor) * Twist and Pulse (performers) * Will Bayley (Paralympian) {{div col end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.brit.croydon.sch.uk/}} * [https://www.brittrust.co.uk/ The BRIT Trust]
{{Performing Arts Schools in the United Kingdom|secondary}} {{Schools in Croydon}} {{Buildings and structures in Croydon}}
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Category:1991 establishments in England Category:City technology colleges in England Category:Dance schools in the United Kingdom Category:Educational charities based in the United Kingdom Category:Educational institutions established in 1991 Category:People educated at the BRIT School Category:Schools of the performing arts in the United Kingdom Category:Science and technology in London Category:Secondary schools in the London Borough of Croydon