Arts Educational Schools facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arts Educational Schools, London
Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre
Address
Cone Ripman House 14 Bath Road Turnham Green Park Chiswick , London , W4 1LY England
Information
Type	Private
Established	1939; 86 years ago (1939)
Founder	Grace Cone and Olive Ripman
Local authority	Hounslow
Specialist	Performing arts
Department for Education URN	102551 Tables
Ofsted	Reports
President	Andrew Lloyd Webber
Principal	Julie Spencer
Gender	Coeducational
Age	11+
Website	http://artsed.co.uk

Arts Educational Schools, often called ArtsEd, is a special school in Chiswick, London. It's a place where young people learn to become amazing performers! It's an independent school focused on the performing arts.

What ArtsEd Does

ArtsEd offers special training for students of different ages. You can learn about musical theatre (singing, dancing, and acting). You can also learn acting for film and television. The school also has shorter courses and holiday programs.

ArtsEd is one of the top performing arts schools in the UK. It's approved to offer special government help. This help, called Dance and Drama Awards, makes it easier for talented students to afford their training. ArtsEd is also part of the Federation of Drama Schools. This is a group of leading drama schools.

ArtsEd's Story

How the School Started

ArtsEd began in 1939. It was created when two schools joined together. The first was the Cone School of Dancing, started in 1919 by Grace Cone. The second was the Ripman School, started in 1922 by Olive Ripman.

Both schools taught regular school subjects. They also trained students in arts like dance and drama. This prepared students for careers in theatre. In 1939, the two schools became one. They called it the Cone-Ripman School. This was the start of today's ArtsEd.

The school first opened in London. But when World War II started, it moved. It went to Tring, Hertfordshire, to be safer.

In 1941, the London school reopened. The Tring school also kept going. In 1947, both schools changed their name. They became the Arts Educational Schools. The London school moved a few times. In 1986, it bought the buildings of the old Chiswick Polytechnic.

In the 2000s, the two schools became separate again. The Tring school is now called Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Today, Arts Educational Schools London is a school for students aged 11–18. It's also a professional conservatoire. This means it's a special college for acting and musical theatre. It also has many part-time courses.

For many years, the school's president was Dame Alicia Markova. She was a famous ballet dancer. Later, Dame Beryl Grey became a director. In 2007, Andrew Lloyd Webber became the president. He is a very famous composer.

In 2013, the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation gave ArtsEd a grant. This money helped to make the school better. It paid for upgrades to the main theatre. It also helped with costume storage and film school facilities.

The Old Chiswick School of Art

The buildings ArtsEd uses today have a history. They were once home to the Chiswick School of Art. This art school was designed in 1881. It was part of the Bedford Park Garden Suburb. This area was known for its focus on community and arts.

The school taught many art classes. These included drawing, pottery, and design. It was sadly destroyed by a V-1 flying bomb in 1944 during World War II.

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  Design for Chiswick School of Art by Maurice Bingham Adams, 1881

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  School of Art, Stores and Tabard Inn by Thomas Erat Harrison, 1882

What Students Learn

Day School and Sixth Form

The Day School and Sixth Form are for students aged 11 to 18. Students here study regular school subjects. They prepare for exams like the GCSE and A-Levels. They do this alongside their performing arts training. Sixth Form students can also get a BTEC Extended Diploma. This is a special qualification in performing arts.

In 2015, the school was rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means it's a really good school. In 2019, it was second in the local area. This was for the number of students passing five or more GCSEs with good grades.

University-Level Courses

ArtsEd offers university-level courses. These qualifications are recognized by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. They are approved by City University London or Trinity College, London. If students don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, they can take a foundation course first.

Famous Former Students

Many talented people have studied at ArtsEd. Here are some of them:

See Also

• List of schools in Hounslow