Paris, 4 September 2026 – School of Arts, a leading French private higher education group dedicated to artistic and creative professions, backed by Seven2, announces the acquisition of WaterBear Education, a specialist UK higher education provider for musicians and creative artists. This transaction marks School of Arts’ entry into the UK market – a major hub for music and performing arts – and a milestone in the group’s strategy to build the reference platform for performing arts education in Europe.
WaterBear Education: a fast-growing music school, deeply rooted in the UK industry
Founded in 2018 by music industry and education entrepreneurs Adam Bushell and Bruce Dickinson, WaterBear has established itself as one of the most dynamic independent music schools in the United Kingdom. With campuses in Brighton and Sheffield, as well as an online offering, WaterBear serves more than 1,000 students enrolled in degree courses delivered in partnership with Falmouth University. Its unique pedagogical approach combines academic study with practical industry experience, small class sizes, and access to live music venues, equipping students with the creative, commercial and entrepreneurial skills to build sustainable careers in music.
WaterBear’s experienced management team will remain in place and retain a minority stake in the UK entity, reflecting their long-term commitment to the combined group’s development.
A mutually beneficial partnership
Bringing School of Arts and WaterBear together creates a unique positioning in the sector. Backed by Seven2, the combined group will accelerate growth with several levers: the opening of new campuses, the ramp-up of existing ones or the extension of existing School of Arts’ offering in the UK (e.g. technical professions in the performing arts).
The combination will also enhance the group’s attractiveness for students on both sides of the Channel, enabling joint degree programmes, cross-border exchange programmes as well as the extension of online courses offering.
A chapter to accelerate School of Arts’ growth beyond France
This acquisition represents a milestone in School of Arts’ strategy to build the reference platform for performing arts education in Europe. WaterBear Education joins an established network of creative arts schools and materially strengthens the group’s profile: student numbers grow by nearly 50% to more than 4,000, close to one third of revenues are now generated internationally, and the group’s footprint now spans from France and Belgium to the United Kingdom.
School of Arts will continue to pursue targeted acquisitions in France and across Europe, building on the performing arts expertise at the core of the group.
Grégory Declercq, Chairman of School of Arts, declared: “We are delighted to welcome WaterBear into the School of Arts group. In just a few years, Adam and his team have built one of the most exciting independent music schools in the UK, and we are eager to build on this momentum together. This partnership gives us the scale and the ambition to become the reference performing arts education platform in Europe.“
Martin Bouilleux, Partner at Seven2, added: “We are proud to support School of Arts in this landmark step. WaterBear is an exceptional asset: a differentiated pedagogical model, a deeply committed management team, and clear organic and external growth levers in a world-class music market. This acquisition illustrates our conviction in School of Arts’ potential to become a true European champion in performing arts education.”
Press contacts
Lauren Bardet
Seven2 – Communications Director
+33 6 16 32 72 82
lauren.bardet@seven2.eu
FGS Global – Pierre Picard
Director
+33 6 86 66 72 81
pierre.picard@fgsglobal.com
seven2@fgsglobal.com
