The only OFSTED Grade 1 college in Birmingham and Solihull, JCC has received standing ovations for its stellar drama department, and Kate Prince’s story is a testament to the college’s reputation of excellence’. She will be taking up her place at the American Music and Drama Academy in September to study BA Musical Theatre – a highly-accredited theatre school with famous faces passing through its halls, from Jason Derulo and Janelle Monae to Michelle Visage.

Kate, originally from Nuneaton, studied BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts (Acting) at JCC and starred in a number of plays, including The Tempest, The Railway Children, and Around the World in Eighty Days, with the Birmingham Theatre School throughout her time at the college.

Commenting on her time at JCC, Kate Prince says: “I’ve had the best time doing this course and think it has developed me both as a person and an actor. It has prepared me in every way to be an actor, to work in the industry and to get to drama school – I don’t think I would’ve got into AMDA without the support of JCC.”

This isn’t just a one-hit wonder for Joseph Chamberlain College. The successful actor, Adrian Lester OBE, was a former student of the college and has now gone on to star in many box-office films, plays and TV series, such as Primary Colors, The Day After Tomorrow, Hustle, Undercover, Riviera, Henry V and Othello at the National Theatre and Red Velvet in the West End and New York.

Adrian’s passion for performing arts was discovered whilst he attended the college. Whilst reminiscing about his time there, Adrian commented: “Joseph Chamberlain College was the first place that my interest in performing arts was given any room to blossom inside a curriculum. There was very little encouragement and support from my school, so I was bursting with enthusiasm when Joseph Chamberlain accepted me and allowed me to study acting, music and dance. It gave me the academic space and confidence I needed to push on. I have very fond memories of my time there.”

With such talent blossoming, Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College has recognised its strengths and will now offer two new higher education courses from September 2019; a HNC & HND in Performing Arts. The college hopes that these courses can provide an alternative to those that are put off by the rising fees of traditional universities, and ultimately, pave the way for future students to follow in the footsteps of Kate Prince and Adrian Lester.