Moseley ‘Flame Academy’ put on back burner

Ambitious plans to launch the Birmingham Independent School of Performing Arts in Moseley have been put on hold due to the recession. The new school was due to open in September in the Old Fire Station building on Moseley Road. It was first announced in July 2008 with plans for the 100 year-old building to be converted into dance studios, rehearsal suites and classrooms. The credit crunch and subsequent recession has led founder Ian Sandy to postpone the opening of  the school until September 2010, even though the building is already in demand as a rehearsal facility from groups including the popular British Academy of Bollywood Arts.

The Birmingham Independent School of Performing Arts (BISPA) was going to offer training in various performing arts disciplines as well as core subjects like mathematics, English and science. An acting head teacher had been already been appointed – Duncan Chamberlain, the former assistant head of Trent College.

BISPA’s residence in the Old Fire Station on Moseley Road had led to the school being dubbed ‘The Flame Academy’ referring to the 80’s well-known film and tv series.