Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
Org 1: The Society of Heads
Org 2: ISA
Mansion Drive, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5LX
Telephone: 01442 824 255
Age Range: Prep/Junior to 11, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Full Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: A Level, GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Dance, Drama
Scholarships Other Types: Musical Theatre
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award, HM forces discount, Sibling discount
Tring Park School for the Performing Arts is the UK’s leading vocational and academic boarding and day school. We offer an exceptional opportunity to young people aged 7–19, enabling them to study a dual curriculum with specialist training in the performing arts alongside an exceptional academic education.
Number in School. Boarders: 204 Day: 151
Pupils are provided with the necessary training required to forge influential careers in the performing arts; with notable alumni including Daisy Ridley, Lily James, Drew McOnie, Ella Henderson and Joe Griffiths-Brown. Alternatively, if pupils wish to do so, they can secure places at top Russell Group universities, with many of our alumni becoming lawyers, doctors and scientists.
Entrance is via audition. Scholarships are available for the dance course via the Government’s Music and Dance Scheme and Dance and Drama Awards (DaDAs) for Sixth Form. School scholarships and bursaries are available for the Acting, Musical Theatre and Commercial Music courses.
Performance Foundation – Lower and Middle School Course
In Lower School, the course aims to build confidence and performance skills whilst consolidating basic technique. Pupils on the Performance Foundation Course take part in core technique classes in classical ballet, modern and tap dance, solo and group singing classes and acting classes which cover script work, voice work and improvisation.
In Middle School, pupils have the opportunity to develop their skills and talents in technique classes and live performances, so that they can make the right choices about the future direction of their career and education. Pupils will continue to study core classes in ballet, modern and tap dance, solo and group singing and acting.
Dance – Lower, Middle and Sixth Form Course
At Sixth Form level, students study classical ballet, contemporary and jazz dance. The curriculum is enhanced by additional classes in pointe work, repertoire, virtuosity, pas de deux, body conditioning, weights classes, Pilates and commercial dance. Second year students continue to develop their skills and contemporary improvisation is introduced. During the third year of training, dancers join Encore Dance Company and have the opportunity to work with internationally known guest professional choreographers.
Commercial Music – Sixth Form Course
The two-year Commercial Music Course focuses on Pop, Rock and Jazz music. The creative aspects of the Commercial Music Course allow students to write original material, create their own arrangements and write for commissions.
Acting – Sixth Form Course
The two-year Acting Course includes classes covering: voice, classical and modern text, physical theatre, movement for actors, acting study, improvisation, dance and singing. All students on the Acting Course also benefit from screen acting lessons and workshops. A strong theatre company ethos is fostered as part of the Acting Course activities, and students participate in a variety of performances throughout the year.
Musical Theatre – Sixth Form Course
The two-year Musical Theatre Course provides students looking to forge a career in the performing arts with a strong understanding and knowledge of technique in the three essential specialist skills. Students study an intensive two-year course focussed on singing, dance and acting.
Fees per term (2023-2024).
Prep Department (Years 3–6): Boarders £8,730 (Year 5), £8,990 (Year 6). Day £5,135 (Year 3-5), £5,290 (Year 6).
Lower School (Years 7–9): Boarders £12,780, Day £8,170.
Middle School (Years 10 & 11): Boarders £12,970, Day £8,300.
Sixth Form: Boarders £13,880, Day £9,190.
*Sibling discount available: 10% of termly fees. Forces discount available – please enquire.
Charitable status. The AES Tring Park School Trust is a Registered Charity, number 1040330. It exists to provide vocational and academic education.
Governors & Staff:
Board of Governors:
Chair: Mrs Angela Odell
Vice-Chair: Mr Mark Hewitt
Robert Breakwell
Vanessa Champion
John Clark
Michael Harper
Rachel Joseph
Jan Kitteridge
Simon Knee
Eric Pillinger
Mark Taylor
Edward Williams
Daniel Zammit
Senior Management Team:
Principal: Simon Larter-Evans
Deputy Principal: Anselm Barker, MSt Oxon, BA Harvard, ARCM
Director of Studies: Elizabeth Odell, BA, AVCM, AISTD, FDI, QTS
Business Director: Stephen Robinson, MBA, MA, DMS
Vocational Directors:
Director of the Dance Course, Head of Dance: Lorraine Jones, LISD (MTH, Tap), AISTD CB NT
Artistic Director of Encore and Graduate Programmes: Antony Dowson, ARAD, PDTC Dip
Head of Drama and Director of the Acting Course: Edward Applewhite, BA Hons, Dip Acting GSA, QTS
Head of Music and Director of the Commercial Music Course: Harmesh Gharu, MA, BMus Hons, PGCE
Director of Musical Theatre Course: Donna Hayward, FISTD
Directors of Performance Foundation Course: Donna Hayward and Jane Verrall
Academic Management Team:
Deputy Director of Studies (Academic): Dr Anu Mahesh, PhD, MSc Hons, PGCE
Head of the Preparatory Department: Amanda Deer, BEd
Head of Lower School: Sarah Bell, MA, BA Hons, PGCE
Head of Middle School, Head of Careers and UCAS: Imogen Myers, BA Hons, CAP, MA
Head of Sixth Form: Dr Sarah Coren, PhD, BSc Hons, QTS
Head of Humanities: Robert Brown, MA, BA, IPGCE
Head of Arts: Jo Myers, BA Hons, PGCE