The National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield is planning to invest £20 million into an expansion of its Buckinghamshire site.

It comes after the National Film and Television School (NFTS) was given a huge vote of confidence by Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt in his spring budget this week. 

On Wednesday, March 6, the chancellor pledged a projected contribution of £10 million to the NFTS’ expansion plans, which include an additional 25,000 square feet of teaching space and accessible student accommodation.

In the coming years, the school – which has been named among the best of its kind in the world – is also hoping to introduce pioneering new courses in Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Production, as well as a state-of-the-art apprenticeship centre to boost the NFTS’ impact on the industry.

Sophie Turner Laing, chair of NTS, said: “The school’s success in securing this vital funding will propel it towards a future of innovation and growth.

“However, this is just the beginning of the journey, with further support necessary to realise our ambitions for expansion. This funding will help shape the next chapter and reaffirms out commitment to ‘building the future’ and advancing the National Film and Television School’s globally renowned training within film, television and games education.”

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Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport added: "Moviemakers are queuing up to film in the UK and this is creating some of the most exciting and fulfilling job opportunities in the world.

“The National Film and Television School gives young people the behind-the-camera skills and hands-on experience needed to grab those opportunities. The government’s funding means the school can modernise its site and broaden its training opportunities to skill up more people into the next generation of screen sector talent. It’s all part of our plans to boost our world-leading creative industries with one million more jobs by 2030."

Alumni from the NFTS have gone on to win 14 Oscars and over 165 BAFTAs – including recent recipients Molly Manning Walker for How to Have Sex and Tarn Willers for The Zone of Interest.

Established in Beaconsfield in 1971, the school enjoys a vital role in the national and global film and television industry, with an impressive graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent.