Brit School North to open in Bradford

A new Brit School North is to open in Bradford with the aim of making the creative industries more accessible to young people from all backgrounds. 

The plans for the new school from the British Phonographic Industry, which is a representative body for record labels, have been approved by the Department for Education. 

The specialist college for 16 to 19-year-olds will serve young people across West Yorkshire and the north.

It will be inspired by the model of the Brit school in Croydon, which is free to attend and has had graduates including Adele, Jessie J and Kate Nash. 

Set to open in 2026 or 2027, the final site of the school in Bradford is yet to be decided. 

The curriculum at the new school will offer performance and skills-based subjects across music, theatre, musical theatre, dance, film and tv, interactive digital design and production arts.

The bid to the Department for Education saw a collaboration between BPI; record companies Sony Music Entertainment UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK; BRIT School; ELAM and the Day One Trust (which runs ELAM and the London Screen Academy).

Sony Music Entertainment UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK have committed to contributing additional funding towards the purchase of equipment for the school. 

BPI said it has long held an ambition to create a specialist creative school outside of London and the South East of England to help make the music and creative industries more inclusive and accessible for all. 

Jo Twist, chief executive of BPI said: “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. 

"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."

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said the school was a "fantastic win" for the North. 

Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, added: “My home city of Liverpool is famously the home of the Beatles, Mersey Beat and many more stars. 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. We are broadening opportunities so more of our children can access this springboard to success in the UK’s growing creative industries.”