Where Did Helen Flanagan Go To College?

Helen Flanagan is a well-known English actress and model who rose to fame playing the role of Rosie Webster on the popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2000 to 2012. She has since gone on to appear in various television shows and act in films, as well as working as a model and brand ambassador.

Flanagan’s education and early life before finding stardom on Coronation Street has been of interest to fans over the years. In this article, we will take a look at where exactly Helen Flanagan went to college and what she studied before becoming a household name.

Helen Flanagan’s Early Life and Schooling

Helen Flanagan was born on 7 August 1990 in Bury, Greater Manchester. She was interested in acting and performance from a young age, attending dance classes as a child and joining local theatre groups.

For her secondary education, Flanagan attended Westholme School in Blackburn, Lancashire. Westholme is an independent Catholic school for girls aged 11-18. After completing her GCSEs at Westholme, Flanagan decided to continue studying drama and acting at the college level.

Attending Runshaw College and A-Level Studies

After finishing school at Westholme, Helen Flanagan went on to enroll at Runshaw College in Leyland, Lancashire in 2006.

Runshaw College is a large further education college that offers a wide range of A-Level, vocational courses, apprenticeships and higher education options for students aged 16 and over. For her A-Level studies at Runshaw, Flanagan chose to study the following subjects:

• Drama and Theatre Studies
• English Language
• Media Studies
• Psychology

These subject choices reflect Flanagan’s passion for acting and interest in the media and arts. Choosing drama and theatre studies allowed her to continue honing her acting skills. English language, media studies, and psychology provided a well-rounded education in other areas.

During her two years at Runshaw College from 2006 to 2008, Flanagan worked hard on her A-Level studies while continuing to attend auditions and take part in local theatre productions. Her talents were increasingly recognized, leading to her life-changing breakthrough role on Coronation Street in 2000.

Helen’s Coronation Street Fame While at College

In August 2000, while still studying at Runshaw College, Helen Flanagan landed the iconic part of Rosie Webster on ITV’s Coronation Street. She was just 9 years old when she made her first appearance on the show.

Flanagan quickly became a popular fixture on Coronation Street as the feisty, trouble-making teenage daughter of Kevin and Sally Webster. As her star rose on the soap opera, she had to balance her studies at Runshaw with filming scenes for the show.

In several interviews over the years, Flanagan has spoken about what it was like trying to focus on college while also acting on Coronation Street during those busy years from ages 16-18. She often had to travel down to the Coronation Street set in Manchester while studying her A-Levels at Runshaw.

Despite the demands of her acting schedule, Flanagan successfully completed her A-Level studies at Runshaw in 2008. However, she chose not to go onto university, preferring instead to concentrate fully on her blossoming acting career.

Helen’s A-Level Results and Decision Not to Attend University

According to an interview she gave in 2009, Flanagan achieved the following A-Level results at Runshaw College:

• Drama and Theatre Studies – A
• English Language – C
• Media Studies – D
• Psychology – E

She attained an A grade in her preferred subject of Drama and Theatre Studies, demonstrating her acting talents. The lower grades in her other subjects may reflect the fact that her acting schedule impacted her studies.

With these A-Level results, Flanagan could have progressed onto a university degree course if she had wanted. However, having already found fame and success on television, she decided that attending university was not the right path for her.

Instead, Flanagan chose to fully focus on her acting career once she completed college. This proved to be excellent decision, as she continued playing Rosie Webster on Coronation Street for many more years, quitting the show finally in 2012.

Summary of Helen Flanagan’s Education

To summarize where Helen Flanagan attended college:

• Secondary school – Westholme School in Blackburn from ages 11-16
• College – Runshaw College in Leyland from ages 16-18
• A-Levels – Drama, English Language, Media Studies, Psychology (2006-2008)
• University – Flanagan did not attend university after completing her A-Levels

So while many actors study at prestigious drama schools or university acting courses, Flanagan succeeded through on-the-job training, landing her career-defining role as a schoolgirl and continuing to play the part while attending a local college near her hometown.

Rather than go down an academic path, she chose to concentrate fully on acting – a decision that led to enormous success and fame for the talented star.

Helen Flanagan’s Acting Career and Other Work

After departing Coronation Street in 2012, Helen Flanagan continued her acting career in various television shows and films. Some highlights include:

• Appearing in the popular reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2012
• Playing the lead role in the horror movie Haunted in 2014
• Appearing on the comedy panel show Celebrity Juice in 2014 and 2015
• Competing in the TV show Celebrity Gymnastics in 2022

As well as acting, Flanagan has modelled for various magazines, notably FHM, and served as a brand ambassador and spokesperson for companies like Foxy Bingo.

She has 2.1 million followers on Instagram, where she posts glamorous fashion and lifestyle photos as one of the UK’s top influencers. Flanagan also has a daughter, Matilda, born in 2015, and often shows snippets of family life.

While still only 32, Helen Flanagan has already enjoyed a remarkably successful acting and modelling career spanning more than two decades in the limelight. Her education at Westholme School and Runshaw College provided a foundation, but it was her talent and determination that truly launched her to stardom at such a young age.

Where Did Helen Flanagan Go to College? – Key Facts Summary

• Helen Flanagan was born in 1990 in Bury, Greater Manchester.
• She attended Westholme School in Blackburn for her secondary education to GCSE level.
• After finishing school in 2006, she enrolled at Runshaw College in Leyland.
• At Runshaw, she studied A-Levels in Drama and Theatre Studies, English Language, Media Studies and Psychology from 2006-2008.
• While at college she began playing Rosie Webster on Coronation Street, landing the role in 2000 aged just 9.
• Flanagan achieved good grades in her preferred subject of Drama and Theatre Studies, but lower results in her other A-Levels.
• After completing college in 2008 she decided to focus on her acting career rather than attend university.
• Since quitting Coronation Street in 2012, Flanagan has enjoyed ongoing success in TV, film and modelling.

Conclusion

In summary, Helen Flanagan attended the independent Westholme School for her secondary education, before moving to Runshaw College from ages 16-18 to study her A-Levels. While at college, her acting career took off as she played Rosie Webster on Coronation Street, having joined the soap at just age 9.

Despite the demands of acting while studying, Flanagan achieved good grades in her favorite subject, Drama and Theatre Studies. After completing college, she chose not to go onto university and instead concentrated on her successful acting and modelling career.

Flanagan remains best known for her iconic Coronation Street role, which launched her into the spotlight at a remarkably young age while still a school and college student.

Frequently Asked Questions about Helen Flanagan’s Education

Here are answers to some common questions about where Helen Flanagan attended college and her early acting career:

What type of school did Helen Flanagan attend for secondary education?

Helen attended Westholme School in Blackburn, which is an independent Catholic grammar school for girls aged 11-18.

How old was Flanagan when she joined the cast of Coronation Street?

Flanagan was just 9 years old when she first appeared on Coronation Street in 2000.

Was she still a schoolgirl when she started on the show?

Yes, Flanagan was still at primary school when she landed the role of Rosie Webster. She continued on the show while attending secondary school and college.

What A-Level subjects did she study at Runshaw College?

For her A-Levels, Flanagan studied Drama & Theatre Studies, English Language, Media Studies, and Psychology.

What grade did she achieve in her Drama A-Level?

Flanagan earned an A grade in her Drama and Theatre Studies A-Level, reflecting her acting talents.

Did Helen Flanagan attend university after completing college?

No, after finishing her A-Levels in 2008, Flanagan decided to focus fully on her acting career rather than go onto university.