The Stage

Plans for boys ballet ‘free school’

Published Tuesday 7 February 2012 at 09:54 by Natalie Woolman

A former maths teacher has developed plans to set up a “free school” for boys who want to dance, but who are not embarking on vocational training.

The Class would be a school for boys aged 11 to 16, located in London. If its application to the Department for Education is successful, it plans to open in September 2013 for boys in year 7, with provision for other year groups opening in subsequent years.

According to the Class website, every pupil will take daily ballet classes as well as trying other dance classes across the week and studying an English Baccalaureate-style curriculum. The school is designed as a “free alternative to mainstream or vocational dance education”.

Founder Tim Stirrup used to be a maths teacher and is currently director of communications at the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics. His interest in dance education for boys developed through his own son, who is currently studying at a vocational ballet school.

Speaking to The Stage, he said that, in his experience, there was less provision for boys aged 11 and up to dance but that he also “became more aware of the cognitive benefits of dance in education”.

He said: “It was two things – one was to provide a place for more boys to take part in dance but the other was so that they could get a really good education and benefit from doing dance every day.”

Stirrup is due to submit the application for Class by February 24 and parents can register their interest at www.class-dance.co.uk.