Students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds at Guildhall School of Music & Drama will benefit from scholarships funded by the Corporation’s Education Board.
Over the next two years members of the board agreed to £30,000 per year until 2026 to support students at the world-class institution.
Students who are on higher education recipients’ programmes will receive the grant to make up for a shortfall in their living costs, while students in the School’s Guildhall Young Artists network of performing and production arts centres will receive the grant to meet the cost of tuition.
Guildhall School of Music & Drama is provided by the City Corporation, as part of its contribution to the cultural life of London and the nation. The institution is a vibrant, international community of musicians, actors, and production artists in the heart of the Square Mile.
Ranked as number one in Arts, Drama & Music by the Complete University Guide 2025, one of the top five institutions in the world for Music and Performing Arts (QS World University Rankings 2024), and the number one higher education institution in the Guardian University Guide 2024 music league table, it delivers world-class professional training in partnership with distinguished artists, companies and ensembles.
A global leader in creative and professional practice, the School promotes innovation, experiment, and research, and is also one of the UK’s leading providers of lifelong learning in the performing arts, offering inspiring training for children, young people, adult learners, and creative and business professionals.
The Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK, investing over £130m every year. The organisation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall Art Gallery, London Metropolitan Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of London.
Chair of the City Corporation’s Education Board, Naresh Sonpar, said:
“We are passionate about social mobility and dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London, within a globally successful UK.
“Achieving greater social mobility is a central part of this, and something we wish to see championed at every level of our organisation.
“Given the pressing concern surrounding the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers, scholarships are vital in bridging that divide.
“First class education is something that should be available to everyone no matter their background or ability.”
The City Corporation sponsors ten high-performing academies across Hackney, Islington, Newham, and Southwark through the Academies Trust. It is also the local education authority for one maintained primary school in the , and the proprietor of four independent schools.
Five out of the 10 Academies Trust schools hold an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating, and two are rated ‘good’ with ‘outstanding features.
Professor Sean Gregory, Vice Principal and Director of Innovation & Engagement, Guildhall School, said:
“We are grateful for these scholarships, which will allow us to provide support where the need is greatest, particularly to students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
“The grant will also enable us to strengthen progression opportunities to Guildhall School, especially for pupils from the Academies Trust, aligning the School and the City Corporation’s dedication to social mobility, as well as helping more broadly to widen access to Guildhall School programmes.”
About the Corporation:
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK –
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