Central School of Ballet Joins London Higher

15 November 2024

Central School of Ballet has become the newest member of London Higher, the representative body for over 50 universities and higher education institutions in London. Since registering as an independent Higher Education Provider with the Office for Students in 2022, Central has continued to build the quality of its higher education offer, as well as work to improve access for any potential student with passion and talent.

Central has relationships with many different groups of individuals and institutions – as a conservatoire offering vocational training, as a Higher Education provider, as a member of the communities of Southwark, and as an institution developing relationships across the world to share good practice and help us reach talented young people. London Higher offers another forum for us to grow, offering our expertise, and learning from our metropolitan partners.

Dr Diana Beech, Chief Executive Officer of London Higher said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Central School of Ballet to our diverse community of London’s higher education institutions. Their expertise in dance education and commitment to artistic excellence will enrich our collective mission to maintain London’s position as a world-leading hub for higher education across the disciplines, including in the creative and performing arts.”

London Higher sees Central’s new membership as an important step in strengthening the collaborative network of performing arts education in London, whilst also recognizing Central’s significant contribution to the capital’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Mark Osterfield, Executive Director, said “Central School of Ballet offers a vocational Higher Education training, which is rooted in our ballet heritage but engages with the dance industry and the audiences of today. In the same way, we believe in the importance of being rooted in place, whilst looking out and engaging internationally. Joining London Higher will give us more opportunities to work with our peers on sustaining and developing London’s rich educational and cultural offer, for the benefit of talented students from the UK and across the globe”.