The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama ("Central") is a specialist institution, established in 1906 and recognised both nationally and internationally as a world presence in vocational theatre training. Central has been in the business longer than any University drama department. It was founded by Elsie Fogerty to offer an academically-integrated form of training in drama and speech for young actors and other students. The choice of name, The Central School of Speech and Drama, was intended to show that the college was a national centre, offering specialist education to a broad range of communities; its Royal title was awarded and the name amended accordingly in 2013. Central was admitted as a Federal College of the University of London (UoL) on 1st September 2005. Each College of UoL is autonomous.

Central has a tradition of expertise which constitutes the basis of its considerable reputation. At the same time, Central is alive to contemporary developments and keenly committed to extending the vigorous, up-to-the-minute provision which it is able to offer. Over the years, Central’s style of teaching and learning has become a hallmark of quality education in performing arts. Together, the undergraduate and postgraduate courses cover the full range of performance techniques and genres, theatre production and design, analysis and research. Central supports a dynamic research community of staff and postgraduate research students.

The School has recognised expertise in the areas of acting and actor-training; applied and social theatre; directing, directors, scenography and design; and cultural histories of performance. Crucially, much of this research operates at the intersection with industry and is realised with partners from a range of sectors, including theatres, film bodies, local authorities, NGOs, charities, cultural festivals, and the museum sector.

Distinguished alumni range from actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Martin Freeman, Riz Ahmed, Kit Harington, Cush Jumbo and Naomie Ackie, to world leaders in the fields of producing (Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Sonia Freidman), voice training and coaching (Cicely Berry, Patsy Rodenburg, David Carey), sound design (Gareth Fry, Tom Gibbons, Carolyn Downing), lighting and projection design (Adam Basset, Finn Ross, Adam Young) writing (Duncan Macmillan, Jessica Swale, Vinay Patel) and directing (Michael Grandage, Jonathan Kent, Christopher Haydon).

Located at Swiss Cottage, London NW3 and in meeting its objective to place students at the heart of its work, Central in recent years opened a dynamic new North Block development on campus to add to its provision of specialist studios and performance spaces. Its values are “respecting”, “enquiring”, “innovating” and “sharing” to support its vision of leading an innovative theatre and performing arts culture that enriches and changes our world. Central’s Strategic Plan to 2023 is a bold map for Central as a place to grow, to return to and to be inspired by. It highlights its unique position in performance training, creative technologies, research and knowledge exchange, international and outreach partnerships and industry collaborations, working everyday with the arts for agency, political change and inclusion. The plan examines who Central is, re-evaluating what its work means under COVID times, and being challenged by its own values: equity and inclusion, diversity, sustainability, with an intersectional perspective, and a belief in the human right of the arts to change our lives and the world we live in.

The Board of Governors is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the School, developing in concert with the Principal the organisational aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines. Their main responsibilities are:

• Determining the educational character and Mission of the School and for oversight of its activities
• Ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the institution and the safeguarding of its assets
• Approving annual estimates of income and expenditure
• Overseeing the appointment, assignment, grading, appraisal, suspension, dismissal and determination of pay and conditions of service of the Principal, Clerk to Governors and holders of other senior posts
• Setting the framework for the pay and conditions of all other staff

Governor (Finance/Risk/Audit)

Due to rotation on the Board and a Governor stepping down, Central is searching for a new Governor with senior strategic experience in at least one of the following areas: audit and accounting regulation, financial planning and or risk management. This experience could come from various sectors but successful candidates will be able to guide and constructively challenge the board and senior teams on these areas. Additionally, as Central looks to develop its estate and increase income to become less reliant on Government sources, any experience with high-net-worth individuals / income generation and / or property / estates would be welcome.

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Governor (Digital/Media/Marketing)

Due to rotation on the Board and a Governor stepping down, Central is searching for a new Governor with senior strategic experience in at least one of the following areas: digital, media, film and television, new technologies in performance, PR and / or marketing. As it moves towards advancing its digital journey, Central is interested in hearing from those with a strong understanding of digital skills related to the specialist areas mentioned.

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Governor (Arts Management)

Due to rotation on the Board and a Governor stepping down, Central is searching for a new Governor with senior strategic experience in arts management with exposure to HR and / or legal issues. This person will bring strong knowledge across some of these areas: setting executive pay, industrial relations, commercialisation and / or employment law. They may be a senior lawyer, HRD or could have had a leadership role in another theatre or large theatre group, an entertainment or media company.

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Above all, candidates will bring a passion for theatre, film and the performing arts, and be aligned to the ethos of Central as an innovative theatre and performing arts culture that enriches and changes the world. Central is strongly committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and so encourages applications from high performing individuals from under-represented backgrounds. This particularly applies to those from different backgrounds, cultures and communities, such as the deaf community.

The Governing Body usually meets five times a year Meetings are usually held in February, May, July, October and November either at the School’s Swiss Cottage Campus or on Zoom and usually commence at 17.30 and last two hours.

Governors are normally required to serve on a Governing Body Committee (Audit, Finance and Estates, Human Resources, Nominations, Remuneration, Diversity and Inclusion). Governing Body Committees meet between one and four times a year. Some Governors may also act as a champions for a particular areas of the business for which they will provide a link. These include: Academic Champion, Equality and Diversity Champion, Health and Safety Champion.

Governors are expected to attend annual Induction / Development Events and ad hoc ‘away-days’ to consider strategy, as well as attending the annual Graduation Ceremony and other corporate functions as required.

A typical annual time commitment would be attendance at eight or nine evening meetings (usually held on a Monday) with associated preparation time and attendance at other ad hoc events as required. This role is unremunerated but Governors may claim reimbursement of reasonable travelling and subsistence expenses incurred within the terms set out in the School’s Financial Regulations. Governor appointments are made for a term of three academic years and Governors usually serve between one and three terms.