90% of ALRA students join Rose Bruford as college launches Wigan campus

More than 90% of students displaced by the closure of ALRA have now resumed their training at Rose Bruford College.

A total of 142 students are continuing their studies across spaces in south-west London as part of what has been called Rose Bruford College SW.

A further 120 students will be taught in the former ALRA North building – owned by Wigan Council – as part of Rose Bruford College Wigan, which sees Rose Bruford take over the running of the former premises.

This means 262 former ALRA students are now being taught by the college.

Studios and venues being used for Rose Bruford College SW include Battersea Arts Centre, Brixton House, Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, Morley College Waterloo Centre and Caius House Battersea.

Rose Bruford principal Clarie Middleton said the organisation is currently in discussion with Wigan Council about having a long-term presence in the north. 

When ALRA announced its sudden closure on April 4, claiming the school was "no longer financially viable" 284 students were left without a training institution. 

Rose Bruford College announced on the same day that it was offering places to all affected students across ALRA’s undergraduate, postgraduate and foundation courses, and 262 of those have chosen to continue their studies with the institution. 

Middleton said: “It is wonderful to be able to welcome these students to our community of learners, offering them a secure way to complete their training after such an unsettling time, and we were encouraged to see the outpouring of support for them from across the industry. 

"There have been many generous offers to help in so many ways, we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the upcoming productions that celebrate the hard work of this year’s graduating cohort."

Rose Bruford has been working with the Office for Students, the Department for Education, the Student Loans Company, the Dance and Drama Awards and ALRA’s former validating partners St Mary’s University and Arts University Bournemouth to enable the transition. 

The former ALRA students will have access to all of Rose Bruford’s study support and well-being services.