Performers College celebrates exceptional results in the National Student Survey 2026
Students at Performers College have delivered an outstanding verdict on their experience in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2026, with teaching quality, student support, and wellbeing all scoring well above the national benchmark.
The NSS is the UK’s largest annual survey of student opinion, giving final-year students across the country the chance to rate their course, their tutors, and their wider university experience.
What our students said
Across our campuses in Birmingham, Brighton, Essex, and Manchester:
- 98.5% of students said teaching staff make the subject engaging
- 97.3% said teaching staff are good at explaining things
- 94.5% said their course challenges them to achieve their best work
- 94.3% felt well supported by teaching staff
- 93.8% said their course has developed the knowledge and skills they’ll need for their future
Performers College also scored above the national benchmark in six key areas – teaching, learning opportunities, assessment and feedback, academic support, student voice, and mental wellbeing – with wellbeing support communication a remarkable 10 percentage points ahead of the sector.
The results continue a sustained upward trend, with every category of the survey scoring higher in 2026 than the year before.
A perfect score in Manchester
Students on Northern Ballet School’s Trinity College Diploma in Professional Dance gave their course a rare distinction: a 100% positivity score on 21 of the survey’s 27 questions. Every single respondent was positive about their teaching, course organisation, feedback, and support – a result any institution in the country would be proud of.
Campus highlights
- Birmingham – 99.2% of students said teaching staff are good at explaining things, while BA (Hons) Acting for Stage, Screen & Digital Media achieved a perfect 100% on four questions across teaching and learning opportunities.
- Brighton – a perfect 100% of students said teaching staff make the subject engaging, with over 90% positive about teaching overall.
- Essex – a fantastic overall performance, with 97.5% positivity for academic support and scores above the national benchmark in every category of the survey.
- Manchester – alongside the Trinity College Diploma in Professional Dance’s standout results, 96.5% of students said teaching staff make the subject engaging.
Our largest course, BA (Hons) Musical Theatre and Dance, also recorded a huge endorsement of its teaching, with 99.5% of the 215 students who responded saying their tutors are good at explaining things.
A word from our Dean
Dr John Harrison, Dean of Performing Arts, commented:
“These results are a testament to the passion and dedication of our teaching teams across Birmingham, Brighton, Essex, and Manchester. Our tutors are working industry professionals who care deeply about every student’s development, and it’s wonderful to see that reflected so clearly in what our students have told us.
“I’m especially proud that our students feel challenged, supported, and prepared for their futures. That balance is at the heart of professional training, and these scores show it’s exactly what they’re experiencing day to day. My thanks go to our students for engaging so fully with the survey, and to our staff for making Performers College such a special place to train.”
Join us
If you’re thinking about a future in performing arts, there’s never been a better time to train with us.
Looking to start this September? Clearing is now open, and our friendly Admissions Team is on hand to talk you through your options.
Planning ahead for September 2027? Come and see us in person at one of our upcoming open days – it’s the best way to experience our campuses, meet our tutors, and get a feel for life at Performers College.
The National Student Survey 2026 was completed by final-year students between January and April 2026. Positivity scores show the percentage of respondents who answered positively to each question. National benchmarks are calculated by the Office for Students.
To discover more about Performers College, including auditions and how to apply, contact us at [email protected] or you can Apply Now, or book an Open Day on our Events page.
