Appointment of Chair October 2021 Reference: EASAOA - Saxton Bampfylde

Appointment of Chair
October 2021

Reference: EASAOA

SB

About NFTS
                                About The National Film and Television School

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021, the National Film and Television School (NFTS) has developed
some of Britain’s most significant and well known creative talents, from directors, producers, screenwriters
and composers to behind the camera artists and technicians.

The incredible work created by the School and its graduates over the past half a century has helped shape
the cultural life of the UK and contributed to the worldwide success of the British film, television and more
recently, the games industry.

With its main site located in Beaconsfield and hubs in London, Glasgow, Leeds and Cardiff, the School has
evolved into the production powerhouse it is today, training over 500 students annually. It has a graduate
employment rate of over 90% and provides the creative sectors with highly skilled, professionally trained
graduates who make an unrivalled impact.

Over 50% of the biggest box office successes since 2015 have had at least one NFTS graduate in a key role.
It is widely acknowledged to be the top school of its kind in the UK and one of the best internationally,
borne out by securing its recent spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s top 15 international schools for the 11th
successive year. In 2018 it was honoured with a BAFTA for Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema and
the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

NFTS alumni are some of the most in demand and well-known creative talents on the global stage.
Graduates of the School have gone on to win 13 Oscars and 152 BAFTAs with alumni including
cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049 and 1917), writer Malorie Blackman OBE, Laurie
Nunn, creator of Netflix’s Sex Education, BAFTA-winning 1917 writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns, acclaimed
writer/director Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), BAFTA-winning director David Yates best known for his work
on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises, animator Nick Park, creator of the beloved ‘Wallace And
Gromit’ characters, director Yann Demage (Top Boy, ‘71), renowned arthouse filmmaker Lynne Ramsay
(You Were Never Really Here), award winning director Alrick Riley (Bridgerton and Stephen) and composer
Nainita Desai (The Reason I Jump and For Sama).

The School has a philosophy of learning by doing and runs more behind the camera courses than any other
film school in the world. It consistently pushes into new territory to meet the ever-changing demands of the
screen industry with recently launched courses in Casting, Post Production Supervision and Virtual
Production, supporting students to work in an increasingly varied range of interdisciplinary genres and
mediums.

The School’s industry-renowned Short Courses offer an impressive range of creative and technical courses,
and have become essential to film and TV professionals keen to upskill and further their careers.

In March 2020, the NFTS released the findings of its Graduate Impact Report which demonstrated the
unparalleled impact NFTS graduates make to the UK film and television industries.

No other single education institution or scheme can point to a record of accomplishment that has delivered talent
and skills for the industry on the scale of the NFTS. The success of the School is disproportionate to its small size.
industry by encouraging dynamic people with appropriate talents and skills to apply, whatever their ethnic or
national origin, age, gender, class, sexual orientation, disability, religious or political beliefs.

The NFTS leads the way in bringing forward the best talent and is an essential talent pipeline for the UK’s
creative industries. The School is committed to supporting diversity – one in four recent NFTS graduates is
from an Black, Asian or minority ethnic background compared to only 3% in the industry overall.

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 48.03% of its MA students are female. It is working hard to ensure the film, television and games industries
reflect the full range of voices and experiences of modern Britain and actively seeks to redress imbalances
within the industry by encouraging dynamic people with appropriate talents and skills to apply, whatever
their ethnic or national origin, age, gender, class, sexual orientation, disability, religious or political beliefs.

The School’s active outreach programme, Access NFTS, works ever harder to reach those who will most
benefit from financial assistance and to attract people from diverse backgrounds who might not have
considered a career in film, television or games before.

The School awards over £900,000 of scholarships and bursaries annually and awards more funding to
British students, relative to the size of its student body than almost any other educational institution in the
UK supported by key partners including DCMS, BFI, Channel 4, BBC Studios, Sky and ITV.

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The NFTS motto is: ‘Our Credits Tell The Story’. Since its inception, the NFTS has demonstrated it is a
creative force that never stands still. In 2021, the film, television and games industry is undergoing a major
renaissance. Changes are happening in every corner of a sector that thrives on emerging new talent, those
who bring fresh new voices and the ability to tell highly impactful stories.

The School remains in lockstep with the demands of the industry, instrumental in keeping the pipeline of
talent bursting with the next generation of passionate, highly trained graduates and storytellers who will go
on to become leaders and influencers at the forefront of the creative process. Over the next 50 years and
beyond, the NFTS aims to continue its mission to produce the people that power production both in the UK
and globally.

Over the next 50 years and beyond, the NFTS aims to continue its mission to produce the people that power
production both in the UK and globally.

To find out more about NFTS visit our website or our social channels:

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The Role
NFTS is seeking a Chair of Governors. The Chair leads the Board of Governors and supports the
Director of the School, Jonathan Wardle. The post-holder will also work as an ambassador for the
school and represent the NFTS to a diverse range of stakeholders including those in the film and
television industries and government.

PURPOSE OF POST

The role of the Chair of the Board of Governors is to:

    •   Lead the Board and work with the Executive to achieve the ambition of NFTS becoming the best
        film, television, and games school in the world.

    •   Lead the Board in an open and positive way, supporting and encouraging all members to make a
        full contribution and to work effectively as a team in the fulfilment of all aspects of its role and
        responsibilities.

    •   Develop an effective partnership with the Director and the rest of the senior leadership team,
        whilst ensuring the Board provides constructive challenge and direction.

    •   Ensure the Board maintains high standards of governance and probity and operates in accordance
        with its code of conduct and rules and by-laws.

    •   Refresh the strategic plan of the NFTS to build upon what has been achieved. 

    •   Ensure the Board determines the educational character, mission, and strategic direction of the
        NFTS and has oversight of its activities.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Principal duties for the Chair include:

    •    Act in an ambassadorial role to promote the interests of the School in order to further its strategic
         aims. This may include advocating in relation to fundraising and strategic developments, lobbying
         government and liaising with funders and partners. The Chair will raise the profile of NFTS
         nationally and internationally and help to develop fund-raising activity.

    •    Ensure that the work schedule of the Board and its meeting agendas enable it to discharge its
         responsibilities effectively.

    •    Chair meetings of the Board and participate as appropriate in meetings of any committees or task-
         and-finish groups of the Board of which the Chair may be a member.

    •    Represent the Board at public and private events including student awards ceremonies,
         performances, open days, and other external events.

    •    Lead an annual review of the work of the Board and its members to ensure that it works effectively
         and has a balance of appropriate skills and expertise.

    •    On behalf of the Board, undertake the appraisal and performance management of the Director
         and other Board members.

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Person specification
The successful candidate will be a dynamic and communicative leader, capable
of winning trust, and will bring:

   •   Experience of working at board level and as a non-executive, in either the private, not for
       profit, or public sectors.

   •   A strong personal commitment to Higher Education, the work of NFTS and the wider media sector,
       and the values, aims and objectives of the School.

   •   Proven interpersonal, communication and people skills and the ability to play a
       compelling ambassadorial role for the School.

   •   An understanding of the film, television and gaming landscape and challenges and
       opportunities relating to these sectors.

   •   Strong financial acumen and experience of strategic planning and resource management.

   •   A desire to play an active role in profile raising and to support the School’s fundraising
       activities.

   •   A demonstrable commitment to the equality, diversity and inclusion objectives of the
       School.

   •   Excellent leadership skills and the ability to inspire others.

   •   A commitment to engaging positively and openly with students, staff, the public and
       other stakeholders.

   •   Outstanding influencing and negotiation skills.

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Terms of appointment
This role is unremunerated but reasonable expenses will be paid.

In addition to the four Board Meetings per year, the Chair will sit on the Finance & General Purposes
Committee which meets five times per year.

The Chair will ideally also wish to attend some events on behalf of the School, including at the NFTS, as well
as making themselves available for consultation with the Director and meeting with diverse stakeholders as
required.

Total commitment to be around two to three days per month, although initially this may be more as the
new Chair gets to know the organisation.

How to apply
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to NFTS on this appointment.

Candidates should apply for this role through our website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code
EASAOA.

Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter and complete the
online equal opportunities monitoring* form.

The closing date for applications is noon on Monday 22nd November 2021.

* The equal opportunities monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your
application. Please complete as part of the application process.

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