PQA Harrogate

🎬 PM Academy in September: Film & Television - Script to Screen project

This term, our Film & Television students will discover what it takes to transform an idea on paper into a finished film. Through our Script to Screen project, they'll explore every stage of the filmmaking process, developing their screenwriting, screen acting and directing skills as they work together to create compelling short scenes for the camera.

🎥 Green Group students will bring professionally written scripts to life, while our Blue and Red Groups will have the exciting opportunity to devise and write their own original duologues.

🎬 Working in production teams, students will rehearse, film and refine their scenes while developing their creativity, communication and technical filmmaking skills. It's a fantastic project that encourages collaboration and problem-solving, giving students a real insight into how professional productions are created.

🎥 Completed films will also provide exciting opportunities to showcase their work at Academy screenings, on PQA TV and even at future PQA Film Festivals.

🌟 POPPETS: A brand new adventure begins this September... introducing Fun Quest! 🌈✨

Our Poppets won't just be putting on a show this term - they'll be creating their very own movie! Over 14 magical weeks, they'll become brave explorers on an unforgettable quest to bring fun back to the world. Along the way they'll meet mischievous characters, solve exciting challenges, learn songs and dances, discover the magic of filmmaking, and most importantly, build confidence, creativity, teamwork and friendships while having an absolute blast. 💛

The adventure will end with a very special Hollywood-style Film Premiere on Saturday 19th December, where family and friends will walk the red carpet before watching our finished film together for the very first time. We already know this is going to be one of our most magical Poppets projects yet, and we can't wait to share the journey with you all! 🎬🍿✨

PQA Harrogate Half-Term School
DISNEY'S MOANA JR 🌊🌺

After the incredible success of our Frozen Summer School, we're absolutely thrilled to announce that, for the very first time, PQA Harrogate will be running an October Half-Term School! This is something many of our families have asked us for over the years, and we're so excited that we've been able to secure the rights to bring Disney's Moana JR to Harrogate this October.

If your child joined us for Frozen, you'll already know just how much they can achieve in only five days. If you missed out this summer, now's your chance to experience the magic for yourself!

Join us from Monday 26 October – Friday 30 October 2026 as we bring Disney's Moana JR to life!

Students aged 4–18 will spend the week singing, dancing and acting as they work towards a spectacular live performance. Along the way they'll build confidence, develop new skills, make lasting friendships and experience the excitement of creating a full musical in just five days. The week culminates in a LIVE performance for family and friends on Friday at 5pm - a show they'll remember for years to come!

Dates:
Monday 26 October – Friday 30 October 2026

Times:
Monday–Thursday: 9.30am–4.30pm
Friday: 9.30am–approximately 6.30pm (Performance at 5pm)

Location:
Harrogate Grammar School – Sixth Form Block

Cost:
£175 for PQA students
£190 for non-PQA students
£25 discount for anyone who attended our Frozen Summer School

Places are initially limited to just 50 and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Twenty places have already been reserved by families who spoke to us after the Frozen performance, so we'd recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Reserve Your Spot
Email [email protected] with your child's full name and age.

Secure your place with a £50 non-refundable deposit by 31 August 2026. The remaining balance is due on or before 1 October 2026.

Give your child the chance to take centre stage, build confidence, make incredible friends and create memories they'll treasure - all in one action-packed week of performing arts, fun and adventure.

We can't wait to set sail with you this October! 🌺

🎄 PM Academy next term: Musical Theatre: Performing with G4!

As if pantomime wasn't exciting enough, we're delighted to announce that PQA Harrogate students will also be performing alongside the internationally acclaimed vocal group G4 as part of their Christmas tour!

🎵Our students will take to the stage in Ripon Cathedral on Saturday 5 December, joining G4 for what promises to be a truly magical festive concert. It's an incredible opportunity to perform in front of a live audience alongside professional performers, creating memories and experiences that will stay with them for years to come.

These are the kinds of real-world performance opportunities that make being part of PQA so special. We know our students are going to do us proud, and we can't wait to see them light up the stage! ✨

🎄 AM Academy next term: Professional performance - Christmas at the Musicals 2026 UK tour

We're absolutely delighted to announce that our AM Academy students have been invited to perform as a special guest choir in Christmas at the Musicals 2026 UK Tour!

Taking place at St Wilfrid's, Harrogate, on Friday 18th December, this spectacular festive concert will feature songs from some of the world's most loved musicals, including The Phantom of the Opera, Matilda, The Snowman, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and many more.

This is an incredible opportunity for our students to perform alongside professional vocalist and The Voice UK finalist Nadia Eide, in a concert that's being specially built around the participating choirs. 🎵

Experiences like this are exactly what PQA is all about - giving our students the chance to perform on professional stages, develop their confidence and create memories that will last a lifetime. 💛

We can't wait to begin rehearsals and share more details with you over the coming months!

🎭 PM Academy: Are you READY for September?! Because it's time for PQA Panto! 🤩

As we've been teasing over the past few weeks, we're thrilled to announce that PQA Harrogate PM Academy will be performing its very own PQA Panto! The performance will take place on Saturday 30 January, and we can't wait to share it with you!

Students have already had a taste of what's to come, learning some of the choreography and comedy elements before the Summer holidays, and from September our Musical Theatre and Comedy & Drama modules will be fully focused on bringing this fantastic production to life. 🎭

Pantomime is one of the most exciting and rewarding projects we deliver at PQA. Along the way, students will develop a whole range of performance skills, including comedy timing, characterisation, audience interaction, improvisation and physical theatre, while continuing to build confidence, teamwork and stage presence. It's always a project full of laughter, energy and creativity, and we're so excited to see our students throw themselves into the wonderful world of pantomime! 💛

🌟 AM Academy... Are you READY? Starting in September you'll begin working on our BRAND NEW West End Show - Lights, Camera... Zapped!

We're thrilled to announce that our next West End adventure will be Lights, Camera... Zapped!, with our students taking to the stage at His Majesty's Theatre, London on Sunday 14th March. 🎭

Just like Across the Line, this production celebrates the individuality and creativity of every PQA Academy, with each academy bringing one of the film worlds to life in its own unique way. Throughout the term, students will immerse themselves in rehearsals, developing their acting, singing and dancing skills while working towards another unforgettable West End performance.

We know this show is going to be packed with energy, comedy and spectacular performances, and we can't wait to share it with you in March! 🤩

Did you know? Many of the skills employers value most are developed through performing arts.

From communication and teamwork to leadership, creativity and resilience, every rehearsal helps young people build confidence and life skills that extend far beyond the stage.

At PQA, we're not just preparing children for performances. We're helping them develop the skills they'll use in school, in future careers and throughout their lives.

Because the lessons learned on stage become the foundations for confident adults.

Which of these skills do you think is the most valuable? Let us know in the comments! 💜