The 14-19 academy, specialising in Creative, Digital and Performing Arts, first opened its doors in 2011 and has marked its 10^th birthday with a celebration event for students, staff and industry partners.

For the past decade, the academy has been dedicated to supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds and academic abilities, with a passion and aptitude in creative, digital and performing arts, to reach their full potential. 

Since opening, over 3000 students have graduated from BOA Academy and forged successful careers across a diverse range of industries. BOA alumni include BRIT Award nominees, TV and West End stars, and work across a broad range of roles in the creative sector. 

Gaynor Cheshire, CEO of the BOA Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to mark this special anniversary at BOA Academy and celebrate a decade of success with our students, staff and partners. 

“When we opened BOA Academy 10 years ago, our vision was clear: to support, encourage and nurture the talent of young people with a passion and aptitude for the creative arts. I’m so proud to see the wonderful achievements of our talented students and the incredible dedication of our teaching staff, who work in collaboration with our industry partners to deliver an unrivalled learning experience.

“BOA Academy is truly unique in its approach to education, with performance, production, creativity and excellence placed at the very heart of the curriculum. We’re committed to ensuring that every learner leaves us fully equipped to pursue their ambition and I’ve no doubt that we’ll continue to see great things from our past, present and future students.” 

BOA Academy is part of the BOA Group, a Multi Academy Trust of specialist academies in Birmingham city centre, which has also seen exciting expansion in the past 10 years. As well as managing the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham, the Group has extended its family of academies to include BOA Stage & Screen Production and BOA Digital Technologies. 

BOA Stage & Screen Production opened in September this year, specialising in technical theatre, film and broadcast production. A 16-19 academy, it takes an industry-led approach to developing the skills of young people in both existing and emerging production techniques and broadcast technologies. 

BOA Digital Technologies, a 11-18 academy opening in September 2022, will deliver a digital-first curriculum - bringing all academic subjects to life through the use of cutting-edge technologies. Every student will benefit from unrivalled access to state-of-the-art resources and facilities, coupled with collaborative industry partnerships to create an educational experience where innovation is placed front and centre.

Gaynor Cheshire continued:

“We are so excited by the ambition and aims of our new academies - both designed to deliver a pioneering curriculum in collaboration with leading industry and academic partners. We know that this method of teaching - where academic excellence and on-the-ground industry experience work hand-in-hand - can create unrivalled opportunities for young people, allowing them to excel in their chosen field and make an important contribution to the city’s thriving creative sector.”

For more information about Birmingham Ormiston Academy and the BOA Group, visit https://www.boa-academy.co.uk