BOA Stage & Screen Production’s vocational approach provides a truly unique opportunity for a diverse range of young people from across the region who are eager to learn and develop within a practical, focused and fulfilling environment.
With a curriculum developed hand-in- hand with industry leaders, the academy is set up to have a transformational effect on students’ education, their future learning and employment.
Year 11 students across the West Midlands are being invited to apply for a place at a unique academy specialising in film, TV, online and theatre production, which has placed itself at the heart of the talent pipeline in Birmingham.
Part of the BOA Group, BOA Stage & Screen Production is a state- funded academy for 16-19 year olds (essentially a sixth form college), based in central Birmingham. BOA Stage and Screen Production takes an industry- led approach to developing the skills of young people, through partnerships with leading organisations across the worlds of broadcast media, production and theatre such as the BBC, Threewise Entertainment, PRG, ScreenSkillsUK, the REP Theatre, and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Students have access to high-quality teaching that provides a deep and practical understanding of the stage and screen industries, and the processes involved in both creative and technical production. Additionally, students work collaboratively on real productions and undertake work placements to give them hands-on experience in real-world settings. This approach equips students with transferable skills to support them on their journey whether that be into work, apprenticeships or higher education.
BOA Stage & Screen Production is a sister school to BOA, the award-winning 14-19 academy specialising in Creative, Digital and Performing Arts, which opened in 2011. The BOA Group also owns and manages the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham, and opened a new academy specialising in digital technologies in September 2022.
Michael Painter, Principal of BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy, said: “The film, television, theatre and events industries in the UK, which contribute well over £20bn to the UK economy every year, are currently growing at an incredible rate. In fact, the creative industries are creating jobs at nearly three times the UK average. This has resulted in a talent crisis. For every performer on stage, we need at least eight crew working behind the scenes. In the Midlands, we are seeing significant investment in film and TV production, including the development of new studios such as Digbeth Loc, and investment in high end TV from the likes of the BBC and Netflix. We also have nationally significant theatres, events venues and festival sites.
“There are huge opportunities for the next generation of crew, technicians, set designers, costume designers, camera operators, lighting designers, make-up artists, prop-makers, line-producers, writers, directors, concept artists, sound engineers, video editors, SFX designers, stage managers, mastering engineers, voice-over artists, etc…
“Careers in roles like these provide a genuine opportunity for young people with interests in the arts, performance, crafts, and media to harness their talents and make a living doing something they love.
“We have enjoyed an incredibly exciting first two years of operation, which will see over 90% of our students graduate with the equivalent of three A grades at A-level, and all students move on to bigger and better things. We are excited that 60% of our students have accepted university places, 20% will go
direct into the world of work, and 20% into apprenticeships and traineeships.”
BOA Stage & Screen Production is offering 200 places to Year 12 students starting in September 2023.
Applications for BOA Stage & Screen Production are now open, and can be made via www.boa-stageandscreen.co.uk
