The Hammond School


The Hammond School, is a specialist co-educational performing arts school based in Chester in the United Kingdom.

History

Irene Hammond founded the Hammond School of Dancing in 1917, when she took over an established dance school in Chester. She expanded the school to include a full programme of performing arts studies. Betty Hassall became the principal of the school in 1946 and was responsible for much of the school's development, most notably the introduction of academic studies in 1965. This enabled the school to become a boarding school offering a full academic curriculum alongside vocational studies, with pupils attending from across the United Kingdom.

Overview

Today, The Hammond comprises a Prep school, secondary school and sixth form for pupils aged 11–18 years, which offers specialist vocational training in Dance, Drama and Music. It also has a three-year professional course leading to the National Diploma in Professional Dance or the National Diploma in Musical Theatre, validated by Trinity College, London. Sixth form also offers a BTEC in Performing Arts combined with 2 A levels. The school is accredited to the Council for Dance Education and Training and is a member of the Independent Schools Association. The Hammond is a MADE School, one of 8 schools in England funded by the Music and Dance Scheme, offering full bursaries to talented young people.
The school's patron is Irek Mukhamedov – famed ballet dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet and Royal Ballet – who teaches students with a dancing Master Class at The Hammond every two years.
In 2018 The Hammond was listed by The Stage as one of 'Seven drama schools where academic achievement is also top class'.

Alumni

The Hammond is known for training students who have been successful in going on to gain professional work in theatre, dance, musicals, and television; regionally, on the West End, and worldwide.
Notable alumni have included:
; Chris Barton
; Tobias Batley
; Jonny Clarke
; Nicole Deon
; Amy Diamond
; Charlie Dixon
; Daniel Dolan
; Kade Ferraiolo
; James Hobley
; Lemuel Knights
; Joel Harper-Jackson
; Jordan Li-Smith
; Alex Pinder
; Fenella Masse Mathews
; George-Murray Nightingale
; Jorgie Porter