Barbara Speake Stage School


The Barbara Speake Stage School was an independent performing arts school in London, England between 1945 and 2020. It was initially set up as a dancing school by the founding principal Barbara Speake, opening on 10 February 1945. Located in East Acton, the school was fee-paying but non-selective in its admissions. The school closed in 2020.

History

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! Collins died in November 2011.
Barbara Speake was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2007 New Year Honours, for services to drama in London.
The School received an Inadequate Ofsted rating at its last inspection. The decline from a Satisfactory rating began with an emergency inspection on 4 July 2014 which found that the welfare, health and safety of pupils was at risk following the installation of CCTV without appropriate changing facilities being provided. The inspection found that there were no changing facilities for female pupils.

Alumni

Over the years, Collins had an eye for talent, and with Speake, the school has helped to develop some notable performers in the entertainment industry, including: