LIPA Sixth Form College

Welcome

LIPA Sixth Form College is a free school dedicated to training students aged 16-18 in the performing and creative arts. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in February 2019, our motto is ‘Where performance matters’. That is true whether onstage, behind the scenes, in the studio or in the classroom. We are passionate about nurturing and empowering our students to perform to the best of their abilities, achieving this by replicating industry practice and professional opportunities within the courses we teach.

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Thanks to our close relationship with the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), our students are able to take part in conversations with some of the best-known names in the performing arts industry, hearing their tips for success first-hand. Past conversations have included Paul McCartney, Judi Dench, Gary Barlow, Stephen Fry, Will Young, Bill Nighy and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. In addition to their conversations with students, past guests have offered critiques of students’ work, or have used their experience to run practical workshops to give students an insight into working in an aspect of the industry.

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We have a pass rate of over 99%, with more than 80% achieving high grades. Over 90% of students go on to conservatoire or university study or paid employment (2019 figures). Student destinations have included Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Institute of the Arts Barcelona, Leeds Conservatoire, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Royal Northern College of Music. Some of our students have gone straight into work having landed recording contracts and agency representation.

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In our 2019 Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ review, inspectors said: “Staff have created an exceptionally positive and inclusive learning environment in which all students thrive and grow in confidence and ability.” Our staff are all qualified teachers and are performing arts industry-experienced. They understand, and have links to, the sector you aspire to work in. They provide a wealth of knowledge about training and career options, developing your industry profile and contacts in the industry.

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We are housed in a purpose-built learning environment which underwent a £5.4 million transformation before opening in 2016. We offer our students a 100-seat theatre, sprung floor dance studios, acting studios, music rehearsal rooms, a MAC suite, a music recording studio, a learning resource centre, a scenic design and construction studio and tutorial rooms and classrooms. Our facilities replicate industry-standard conditions to acclimatise our students to work at a professional level.

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