Mark Featherstone-Witty
Encyclopedia
Mark Featherstone-Witty (born London, 2 June 1946) is an educator and entrepreneur. He is the Founding Principal and Chief Executive of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
(LIPA) which he created in the mid 1990s, after creating the British Record Industry Trust BRIT School
in Croydon
.
He lives in Toxteth
, Liverpool
with his wife Alison and his son Tom.
, to Evy and Philip Featherstone-Witty, he was an only child of parents who divorced when he was eleven. His secondary school was Wellington College
(1959–1967) which proved an unsuitable school for the performing arts, although he did manage to produce, direct and act in a play. He charts his interest in the performing arts from the time he saw the 1933 film 42nd Street
, when he was eight, at the National Film Theatre in London.
After an unsuccessful career start in accountancy and a few years teaching in prep schools in Kent
and Oxford
, he attended The University of Durham (1969–1972), taking a general degree and remained for a further year to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
. He edited the university newspaper ‘Palatinate’ and continued to direct and perform. He created and edited a regional arts magazine for the North-East of England, ‘Face North’.
Before leaving, he gained the Gertrude Cole Fellowship at Rollins College
, Winter Park, Florida
, which he completed a year later, in counselling and psychology
(M.Ed.) and was also elected to the US highest honour society. During his year in the United States, he continued to perform and appeared as a hairdresser
in the 1974 Sackett – Hugh film production ‘The Meal’, later renamed ‘Deadly Encounter’.
as an Assistant Editor, co-creating one of their most successful English textbook series. He left to teach at The Leventhorpe School
, a comprehensive school in Hertfordshire
, while additionally being the Consultative Education Editor for Quartet Books (1984–1986) and writing book reviews and profiles of a variety of national magazines and newspapers.
He became Principal of Holborn Tutorial College for two years before founding his own tutorial college, Capital College, in 1980. For the next nine years, he either created, co-created or assisted two further private enterprise further education colleges (The London School of Insurance and The London School of Publishing) and a television production company (Rainbow Education) which developed a six part television series, ‘Whose Town Is It Anyway?’ for the then embryonic Channel Four.
During this period, he watched Alan Parker’s
’s film Fame and decided that the next venture was to be a performing arts school with a curriculum that focused on achieving a lasting career in the arts and entertainment industry. He also decided that the school would be a charity and set about creating the vehicle ‘The Schools for Performing Arts Trust’, bringing Anthony Field
, former Finance Director of The UK Arts Council, on board as the Chair and inviting Alan Parker to be the first Patron for what was simply an idea.
, who had been introduced to Mark Featherstone-Witty by Sir George Martin – the man who Mark Featherstone-Witty still describes as the Godfather of both The BRIT School and LIPA. Through extraordinary timing, a variety of needs could be met through a new performing arts school in London. The Conservative Government needed an attractive project to invigorate its somewhat flagging City Technology College
initiative and the British record industry needed political influence – the initially named ‘The London School for Performing Arts and Technology’ was to be the vehicle. It was an awkward birth and has been described in Mark Featherstone-Witty’s 2001 book 'Optimistic, Even Then’.
Through equally extraordinary timing, Paul McCartney
was writing his Liverpool Oratorio and decided to relive his schooldays by visiting his old school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys
. He was dismayed by the dereliction of the abandoned building and felt that it deserved better. Someone had suggested that Liverpool
needed a performing arts
school. This idea remained dormant until Sir George Martin suggested Paul McCartney met with Mark Featherstone-Witty.
At the time, well before Liverpool achieved the European Capital of Culture
in 2008, Liverpool City Council
decided that the city should capitalise on its music heritage and commissioned the report ‘Music City’. Pete Fulwell, then managing The Christians, found Mark Featherstone-Witty through Island Records
, the record label the band was signed to.
It was the education/training section of the report that described LIPA’s blueprint.
Once again, led by Mark Featherstone-Witty, the developmental and capital funding proved inevitably hard. In the end, the £20m funding was split three ways: Liverpool City Challenge, The European Union and the private sector
. The largest donors in the last category were Paul McCartney and the German consumer electronics company, Grundig
.
There have been a variety of highlights, the most rewarding being the achievement of the initial dream of sustained employment. Most recent figures have shown that over the most recent four year period, 93% of LIPA’s graduates are in work three years after leaving, while 87% work in the performing arts. To achieve this, the curriculum is constantly being revised.
LIPA was designated in 2006 – the first new higher education institution to have been started from scratch in living memory. As a performing arts HEI, LIPA is attended by the highest number of international students in the UK.
LIPA has been awarded the Silver Standard from Investors in People
- the only HEI to have achieved this level in the UK. LIPA also has the highest concentration of Fellows and Associates recognised by The Higher Education Academy
.
where a link remains. NAW recently opened a new concept in London. He is a Director of The Conference of Drama Schools
. He is also a Board Member of the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool
Trust which aims to refurbish this grand art deco theatre.
Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is, despite its young age, one of the United Kingdom's leading institutions for the performing arts. The university is situated in the English city of Liverpool...
(LIPA) which he created in the mid 1990s, after creating the British Record Industry Trust BRIT School
BRIT School
The London School for Performing Arts & Technology is a British school located in Selhurst, Croydon, in London, England, with a mandate to provide education and vocational training for the performing arts, media, art and design and the technologies that make performance possible...
in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
He lives in Toxteth
Toxteth
Toxteth is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. Located to the south of the city, Toxteth is bordered by Liverpool City Centre, Dingle, Edge Hill, Wavertree and Aigburth.-Description:...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
with his wife Alison and his son Tom.
Early life and education
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to Evy and Philip Featherstone-Witty, he was an only child of parents who divorced when he was eleven. His secondary school was Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
(1959–1967) which proved an unsuitable school for the performing arts, although he did manage to produce, direct and act in a play. He charts his interest in the performing arts from the time he saw the 1933 film 42nd Street
42nd Street
42nd Street may refer to:*42nd Street *42nd Street **"Forty-Second Street", title song from the film*42nd Street -New York City Subway:...
, when he was eight, at the National Film Theatre in London.
After an unsuccessful career start in accountancy and a few years teaching in prep schools in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, he attended The University of Durham (1969–1972), taking a general degree and remained for a further year to gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
. He edited the university newspaper ‘Palatinate’ and continued to direct and perform. He created and edited a regional arts magazine for the North-East of England, ‘Face North’.
Before leaving, he gained the Gertrude Cole Fellowship at Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
, Winter Park, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, which he completed a year later, in counselling and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
(M.Ed.) and was also elected to the US highest honour society. During his year in the United States, he continued to perform and appeared as a hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
in the 1974 Sackett – Hugh film production ‘The Meal’, later renamed ‘Deadly Encounter’.
Career
After a spell in London comprehensive schools, he joined Macmillan EducationMacmillan Education
Macmillan is one of the world’s leading publishers of English Language teaching and school curriculum materials, with over 150 years of publishing experience. Based in Oxford, UK, and operating in over 40 countries worldwide.-History:...
as an Assistant Editor, co-creating one of their most successful English textbook series. He left to teach at The Leventhorpe School
The Leventhorpe School
The Leventhorpe School is a mixed, 11-19 secondary school and sixth form in the historic market town of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. The school has held Specialist Business and Enterprise College status since 2004. It belongs to the Bishop's Stortford and Sawbridgeworth Consortium of Secondary...
, a comprehensive school in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, while additionally being the Consultative Education Editor for Quartet Books (1984–1986) and writing book reviews and profiles of a variety of national magazines and newspapers.
He became Principal of Holborn Tutorial College for two years before founding his own tutorial college, Capital College, in 1980. For the next nine years, he either created, co-created or assisted two further private enterprise further education colleges (The London School of Insurance and The London School of Publishing) and a television production company (Rainbow Education) which developed a six part television series, ‘Whose Town Is It Anyway?’ for the then embryonic Channel Four.
During this period, he watched Alan Parker’s
Alan Parker
Sir Alan William Parker, CBE is an English film director, producer, writer and actor. He has been active in both the British cinema and American cinema and was a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain.-Life and career:...
’s film Fame and decided that the next venture was to be a performing arts school with a curriculum that focused on achieving a lasting career in the arts and entertainment industry. He also decided that the school would be a charity and set about creating the vehicle ‘The Schools for Performing Arts Trust’, bringing Anthony Field
Anthony Field
Anthony Donald Field AM is an Australian musician and actor. He is best known as a member of the children's group The Wiggles and the 1980s and 90s band The Cockroaches with his brothers, Paul and John and another future Wiggle, Jeff Fatt.Field was the youngest of seven children, and grew up in...
, former Finance Director of The UK Arts Council, on board as the Chair and inviting Alan Parker to be the first Patron for what was simply an idea.
The start of The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA)
Raising the developmental and capital costs for a charitable school was tough. The Project Champion was Richard BransonRichard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
, who had been introduced to Mark Featherstone-Witty by Sir George Martin – the man who Mark Featherstone-Witty still describes as the Godfather of both The BRIT School and LIPA. Through extraordinary timing, a variety of needs could be met through a new performing arts school in London. The Conservative Government needed an attractive project to invigorate its somewhat flagging City Technology College
City Technology College
In England, a City Technology College is a state-funded all-ability secondary school that charges no fees but is independent of local authority control, being overseen directly by the Department for Education....
initiative and the British record industry needed political influence – the initially named ‘The London School for Performing Arts and Technology’ was to be the vehicle. It was an awkward birth and has been described in Mark Featherstone-Witty’s 2001 book 'Optimistic, Even Then’.
Through equally extraordinary timing, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
was writing his Liverpool Oratorio and decided to relive his schooldays by visiting his old school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys
Liverpool Institute for Boys
The Liverpool Institute High School for Boys was an all-boys grammar school in the English port city of Liverpool.The school had its origins in 1825 but occupied different premises while the money was found to build a dedicated building on Mount Street. The Institute was first known as the...
. He was dismayed by the dereliction of the abandoned building and felt that it deserved better. Someone had suggested that Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
needed a performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
school. This idea remained dormant until Sir George Martin suggested Paul McCartney met with Mark Featherstone-Witty.
At the time, well before Liverpool achieved the European Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
in 2008, Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council is the governing body for the city of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It consists of 90 councillors, three for each of the city's 30 wards. The council is currently controlled by the Labour Party and is led by Joe Anderson.-Domain:...
decided that the city should capitalise on its music heritage and commissioned the report ‘Music City’. Pete Fulwell, then managing The Christians, found Mark Featherstone-Witty through Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, the record label the band was signed to.
It was the education/training section of the report that described LIPA’s blueprint.
Once again, led by Mark Featherstone-Witty, the developmental and capital funding proved inevitably hard. In the end, the £20m funding was split three ways: Liverpool City Challenge, The European Union and the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
. The largest donors in the last category were Paul McCartney and the German consumer electronics company, Grundig
Grundig
Grundig AG is a German manufacturer of consumer electronics for home entertainment which transferred to Turkish control in 2004-2007. Established in 1945 in Nuremberg by Max Grundig, the company changed hands several times before becoming part of the Turkish Koç Holding group...
.
LIPA Opening to Today
LIPA celebrated its tenth birthday in January 2006 with a performance at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and a new book, 'LIPA - The First Ten Years in Pictures', written by Mark Featherstone-Witty.There have been a variety of highlights, the most rewarding being the achievement of the initial dream of sustained employment. Most recent figures have shown that over the most recent four year period, 93% of LIPA’s graduates are in work three years after leaving, while 87% work in the performing arts. To achieve this, the curriculum is constantly being revised.
LIPA was designated in 2006 – the first new higher education institution to have been started from scratch in living memory. As a performing arts HEI, LIPA is attended by the highest number of international students in the UK.
LIPA has been awarded the Silver Standard from Investors in People
Investors in People
Launched in 1991 Investors in People is a business improvement tool administered by UK Commission for Employment and Skills and supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ....
- the only HEI to have achieved this level in the UK. LIPA also has the highest concentration of Fellows and Associates recognised by The Higher Education Academy
Higher Education Academy
The Higher Education Academy is an independent organisation in the United Kingdom that supports higher education institutions with strategies for the development of research and evaluation to improve the learning experience for students.-History:...
.
Other Activities
He enjoys other activities close to his heart. He remains the Chair of the Sefton Park Palm House – a restored Victorian temperate glass house in the park close to his home. He is a Board Member of the National Academy of Writing, initially based at the Birmingham City UniversityBirmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
where a link remains. NAW recently opened a new concept in London. He is a Director of The Conference of Drama Schools
Conference of Drama Schools
The Conference of Drama Schools comprises 22 accredited drama schools in Britain. Founded in 1969, the 22 member schools offer courses in Acting, Musical Theatre, Directing and Technical Theatre training.-Members:...
. He is also a Board Member of the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
Trust which aims to refurbish this grand art deco theatre.