Birmingham students - from City Academy, Arena Academy, Rockwood Academy and Jewellery Quarter Academy - all part of CORE Education Trust, have taken part in a theatre workshop with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) in London this week where they also met with King Charles III and actor Sir Idris Elba.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the NYMT, the King met with students taking part in the workshop, which was designed to give young people opportunities and experiences in musical theatre. The King was joined by Sir Idris Elba who used a grant from The Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust) to attend NYMT aged 18.
A partnership between NYMT and CORE Education Trust was established through the trust’s work on Echo Eternal, a Holocaust Memorial commemorative arts project. Since 2023, young people from NYMT and CORE have worked collaboratively to present creative responses inspired by survivor testimonies, performed annually to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
The workshop this week was the final of four access workshops for the CORE students. The sessions have been led by NYMT creative practitioners and funded by the Garek Trust. This generous financial support has supported NYMT’s aspiration to make inclusion and access the focal point of its 50th year celebrations. NYMT designed the workshops to develop the confidence, communication and performing skills of young people, including in improvisation.
On stage, the King cut a cake in celebration of the 50th anniversary of NYMT and joined a group photo with all the young people in attendance before taking a seat to watch a performance from NYMT students. CORE Education Trust places equity, inclusion and social justice at the centre of its mission, with its schools relentlessly focused on the removal of barriers to learning, not only to raise educational outcomes, but to disrupt cycles of disadvantage and ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to opportunity and the chance to succeed.
Through its partnership with NYMT, CORE provides students with access to professional-level performing arts opportunities, encouraging creativity and clear pathways into creative industries. This collaboration reflects the trust’s broader aim to enrich education through meaningful cultural experiences and to amplify the voices and talents of the young people it serves.
Jo Tyler, CEO of CORE Education Trust, said: “Seeing our students stand on a national stage, learning from world‑class practitioners and meeting His Majesty The King and Sir Idris Elba, is a powerful reminder of what happens when barriers are removed and talent is given room to thrive.
“Our partnership with NYMT shows what equity in action looks like, every young person deserves access to experiences that expand their horizons and shape their future.” CORE Education Trust is a multi-academy trust delivering high-quality, inclusive state education across diverse urban communities in Birmingham, serving secondary school students from a wide range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on equity, aspiration, and community engagement.
