Barbara Speake Stage School
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| Established | 10 February 1945 |
|---|---|
| Type |
Independent school Day school Co-educational school |
| Principal | Barbara Speake |
| Headteacher | David Speake |
| Founder | Barbara Speake |
| Location |
East Acton Lane Acton, London W3 7EG England 51°30′44″N 0°15′19″W / 51.51234°N 0.25517°WCoordinates: 51°30′44″N 0°15′19″W / 51.51234°N 0.25517°W |
| Local authority | Ealing Council |
| Gender | Co-educational |
| Ages | 4–16 |
| Campus | Urban campus |
The Barbara Speake Stage School was opened on 10 February 1945 and remains one of the longest established stage schools in the world. It is an independent school, and was initially set up as a dancing school, by the present principal Miss Barbara Speake, MBE, and located in East Acton, London. The school is fee-paying but non-selective in its admissions.
In 1961, June Collins joined forces with Barbara Speake to become the school's agent. Collins supplied the entertainment industry with children for every major production in the West End, TV and Theatre. Due to the success of both the agency and dancing school in 1963 the decision was made to turn their successes in to a full-time educational establishment for the performing arts. Collins discovered Jack Wild playing football and decided that he was a child with potential, and persuaded his family to let him attend the full-time school. Wild went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of "The Artful Dodger" in Oliver!
One of its founders, Barbara Speake, went on to receive an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in the New Years Honours list of 2007, for her services to the arts. Collins died on her 98th birthday on 6 November 2011.
The School currently has 125 pupils aged 3 1/2 to 16 and is the only stage school providing a "Stage School" Nursery, allowing the children to grow in confidence and self-esteem via the arts.
Over the years, Collins had an eye for talent, and with Speake, the school has helped to develop some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including:
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