English National Ballet School, official School of English National Ballet is a specialist training centre for aspiring and highly talented young ballet dancers aged 16 to 19. We transform talented young dancers into world-class performers over a three year programme validated by Trinity College, London.
The School was founded in 1988 by English National Ballet to train students for a professional career in dance. Today the School exists as a separate entity but maintains strong links with its parent company, sharing its commitment to excellence and access.
We are a talent-led organisation and each year 300 young dancers audition for one of thirty places in the first year. Once a young dancer joins, they have an incredibly bright future. Our dancers join English National Ballet and other prestigious ballet companies worldwide. Currently a third of the dancers at English National Ballet are graduates of the School.
We are highly respected in the field for our training and pastoral care. We are regarded as an ‘exemplary provider’ by Trinity College London and have consistently been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted since inspections began. In our most recent inspection Outstanding was achieved in all areas which includes effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, and outcomes for learners.
Our ambition is to make English National Ballet School the first choice for the next generation of international ballet dancers and ballet companies.