Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts

Italia Conti is the leading Performing Arts institution in the country; built up over the 106 years since it was founded. The Theatre Arts School has an outstanding international reputation for providing both Academic and Performing Arts training for a wide variety of disciplines, enabling our students to achieve excellent grades in their GCSE's and to lead on to become versatile and valuable members of the theatrical profession.

The main characteristic of Italia Conti is the collaborative and interdisciplinary approach we bring to everything we do. This approach, along with the vibrant atmosphere of the school, underpins the success of our students and makes for a superb training environment.

While studying at secondary school level can sometimes be rather impersonal, as a comparatively small faculty we strive for and value the high levels of contact

The role of the school is to help talented students harness their dedication to achieve high academic standards, reflected in their exam results and become communicative triple threat artists, with the pure passion and understanding to reach within themselves to affect and move audiences."

Italia Conti Theatre Arts School aims to provide education and training opportunities at both academic and vocational level, to a diverse student population interested in performing careers. Our curriculum includes a range of subjects to ensure all round education in both areas.

Italia Conti Theatre Arts School aims to provide education and training opportunities , both academic and vocational level, to a diverse student population, interested in performing careers.

The key objectives are:

• To provide a safe environment in which its learners can be trained and educated to develop and broaden their skills to their individual highest possible standard.
• To provide a program of training that takes account of educational and industry needs, and current teaching and learning trends.
• To provide a curriculum that recognizes individual needs and aspirations with a training process designed to nurture confidence, self-esteem, acknowledgement of personal strength and the true fulfillment of technical and artistic potential.
• To provide the industry with skillful individuals who can confidently demonstrate and respond to the needs of an ever changing and demanding profession.

Pupils begin their academic and vocational studies learning the basic techniques and skills required. This is considered a platform to start which they will continue to build upon throughout their schooling. Year 7 - 9 pupils study a range of subjects which are taken through to GCSE level, following a balanced timetable of academic studies and performance classes. Pupils are introduced to assessments in order for the teaching faculty to monitor pupil progress throughout the year.

Pupils continue with their studies in Year 8, building upon the skills and techniques learnt in Year 7. More is expected at this level with pupils developing further academically with more in depth research into subjects and continuing to learn their craft in performance classes.

Our second formal entry to the Theatre Arts School takes place toward the end of Year 9. This is a very exciting time for our 13+ entries and current pupils as they are actively choosing a path that is highly creative and incredibly rewarding. In Year 9 pupils make choices for Years 10 and 11 as they begin to think about their GCSE studies.

In Year 10 pupils continue to study a range of subjects now at GCSE level, and Dance and Drama are added to the GCSE provision. The GCSE course follows a two year programme for most subjects, though some subjects will also begin GCSE guidance in Year 9, particularly in Science and Drama. The subjects offered at Italia Conti endeavour to enhance our pupils learning giving them a fully rounded curriculum choice of the Arts, Humanities and Languages, alongside the core subjects English Language and Literature, Mathematics and Science. Fitness classes are now available to pupils along with the continuation of our extensive vocational provision of Acting, Dance, Singing and Musical Theatre.

Year 11 pupils continue onto the second and final year of the GCSE programme and are supported through their studies, course work and examinations with additional learning support and revision sessions. In performance studies pupils prepare for their final vocational assessments, end of year performances and audition preparation for those wanting to continue onto vocational training.

There are a variety of pathways that our pupils can choose from 16+ years of age and we always endeavour to support our pupils interests by giving individual advice and guidance alongside a careers programme.

It is internationally known and attracts young people from all walks of life. As the school celebrates over 100 years of success we marvel at the fact that throughout its history the Academy has only had 5 principals.

Education was changing. Grants for students aged 16+ from local Education Authority's were no longer the norm' and were replaced by funding from central Government, leading to recognised qualifications in dance, drama and musical theatre via the Dance & Drama Award scheme (DaDA).

The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts is the world's oldest theatre arts training school. It grew out of the first production of the play that was to become a children's classic 'Where The Rainbow Ends'. Italia Conti, who was then an established actress, was invited by the producer Charles Hawtrey to teach children for the first production of 'Where the Rainbow Ends' which opened at the Savoy Theatre in 1911.