Novello Theatre
a superb facility through which our Musical Theatre Students gain regular performance experience. The theatre is also used for some classes; annual assessments and in-house performance.

Redroofs is a five-minute walk from Maidenhead station with easy access from Paddington, Ealing Broadway, Slough and Reading.

We offer a unique co-educational Independent Day School (ages 8-16 years) providing an outstanding performing arts curriculum combined with a sound academic education to GCSE.

Many boys and girls join our school after attending once-a-week classes either at Redroofs or elsewhere, and often have displayed a clear commitment to an arts-oriented education. The move may be prompted by feeling out of place in their current school or by sheer creative frustration.

How do you know if this is the right school for your child?
We do not set up Open Days to advertise what we can offer for your son or daughter. Instead, we welcome parents and prospective pupils to visit us "in action" on a working day, to meet with the Headteacher and to sense a little of what we are about. A performance-in progress!

All prospective pupils will be invited to participate in the life of the School for a full day, meeting his/her potential friends, participating in the classes of the day and taking in a little of what we are about. Only then will he/she truly know if this is the right school.

Whilst sports and gym are not a part of our curriculum, the extensive range of dance and drama classes and regular productions offer a challenging physical curriculum developing coordination, strong team spirit and camaraderie.

Redroofs has a “family-school” atmosphere.
Whilst we have an anti-bullying policy, we have rarely had to refer to it! Our pupils are by nature tolerant of individuality; encouraging of each others talents, and spur each other on through “audition” disappointments or personal difficulties.

Whilst we operate in a competitive world, we do not set our pupils up to compare themselves against each other. Every pupil is expected to achieve his/her best both in the arts and in academic lessons. The majority of our pupils are academically capable. However we also encourage less academically able children and have seen an extraordinary “turnaround” in children who have not thrived elsewhere, endorsing that “if a child is happy he will learn.” (If your child has particular needs, please advise us on application) .

We believe that our pupils are our own best advertisement. Please come and visit us soon! General Information

Whilst our school premises is small, we are by no means limited. We recognise that school, home and the rest of the world are all a part of education.

As a theatre school our pupils are exposed to what is essentially an industry sometimes from a young age. We encourage the children to see their studies as a part of something greater. A dancer does not dance in isolation. He is a part of a company which supplies a service to its paying audience. Our pupils regularly attend West End and local productions; attend workshops, visit museums and participate in field trips.

We aim throughout the school to expand areas of interest and encourage independent thinking. It is therefore not surprising that pupils who opt not to continue their performing arts training at 16+ have gone on to colleges and universities; to create unique businesses; to travel widely, to run their own schools overseas!

With self-belief there are no limits.Academic studies

The majority of our pupils sit 8-9 GCSEs.

Theatre School is not a "soft option". Our pupils are expected to apply the same commitment to their academic studies as they do to their creative curriculum and an all-round professional attitude is expected throughout the school. A dual curriculum means that we expect twice the focus. All pupils, whatever their ability are expected to work hard in all subjects and as the curriculum already leans heavily towards the arts we do not offer options at GCSE.

Our school day begins at 8:15 with registration and classes commencing at 8:30. Mornings are dedicated to academic classes taught in year groups. Junior pupils are taught primarily by their class teacher for the majority of the morning sessions whilst the Upper School are taught by specialist teachers. We have a short lunch break followed by a full afternoon of vocational classes which may include ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, singing (examination)/repertoire, speech, audition work, choir practice, rehearsals, text study, masterclass, improvisation and examination coaching.

Dance subjects are taught according to ability and level attained. All pupils are expected to participate fully in all aspects of the curriculum. Being a small school we are able to tailor timetables to provide the best possible training for each pupil. Pupils are taught in small mixed ability groups according to age. Throughout their school careers, pupils are taken on regular visits to museums, theatres and places of interest to support their class based studies.

We also welcome speakers into schools from time to time. Every pupil sits our Summer Examinations and written notification of results is sent home in each child's annual report. Parents are invited to attend the Vocational Assessments that also take place in the Summer Term at the Novello Theatre.Choreography and Directors Competitions

From time to time the school holds internal competitions to encourage new talents to come forward. The competition results in a Cup and in cases of outstanding achievement an outlet will be found for the work produced. We are delighted that pupils have found these talents as a result of our competitions have gone on to work professionally in these fields. This is also an opportunity for organisational and leadership skills to develop.

Many of our pupils write, compose and produce plays outside of school hours. As a small school and a lively artistic community we actively encourage this development and the pupils have on numerous occasions staged their own full-scale musicals for charities and fund-raising at the Novello Theatre.

External Examinations in addition to GCSE

Pupils are entered as appropriate for the Grade and Major examinations of the Royal Academy of Dance and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. These are a compulsory part of their training and fees are payable as extras.