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About Sparks Film School

Since 2010, Sparks Film School has been igniting ideas in film and media arts, transforming curious children into confident creators. What started as a single location in South West London has grown into the UK's leading youth filmmaking education brand, with 35 locations inspiring over 15,000 young filmmakers.

Our Story

Sparks Film School was founded in 2010 by Dan Farrell and Donna Bamford, two passionate film educators who recognised a gap in youth filmmaking education. While digital and creative skills were becoming increasingly essential for the future workforce, quality hands-on film education for children remained scarce.

Dan and Donna envisioned something different: a place where young people could learn professional filmmaking skills in a supportive, creative environment. Not just another children's activity, but a genuine film school that treated students as serious creators and equipped them with industry-standard tools and techniques.

From that first location in South West London, Sparks has grown organically through word-of-mouth and the success of our students. Today, we operate 40+ locations across the UK, from London and the South East to Glasgow, Cardiff, Sheffield, Bath, and beyond, with 25+ franchise partners and a team of 200+ skilled instructors.

Our Mission

We exist to inspire young filmmakers and to address the digital skills gap through practical filmmaking education. By combining creative storytelling with technical expertise, we prepare young people for the digital future while nurturing their confidence, communication skills, and creative expression.

We believe:

Every child has a story worth telling

Hands-on experience is the best teacher

Small groups enable personalised attention and genuine learning

Professional equipment and qualified instructors make the difference

Filmmaking develops skills far beyond the camera: teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and resilience

What Makes Sparks Different

Professional Standards
We're not a babysitting service or casual activity club. Sparks is a genuine film school for young people. Students work with high quality equipment and industry-specific techniques.

Qualified Instructors
Our 200+ workshop instructors typically hold film degrees or have 2-3 years of industry experience. They're working filmmakers, editors, and media professionals who bring real-world expertise and genuine passion to every class.

Small Class Sizes
We maintain small class sizes for every group. This isn't just about safety, it's about ensuring every child receives personalised guidance and has the chance to work hands-on with equipment.

Structured Progression
Our standardised curriculum includes 15 award levels across filmmaking, animation, photography, and media arts. Students progress through clear skill stages, building confidence and capability with each project.

Inclusive Approach
We welcome all young people, including neurodivergent and special needs students. Our teaching methodology draws on Multiple Intelligences theory and project-based learning, accommodating different learning styles and abilities. Our scholarship programme supports 50-100 students annually with means-tested assistance.

Our Programmes

Sparks offers comprehensive film and media education for ages 5-18 through multiple formats. We offer training in filmmaking, animation, photography and multimedia.

Holiday Camps
Intensive 3-5 day programmes during school holidays where students create complete films from concept to premiere.

Term-Time Classes
Weekly sessions running across three terms per year. Students develop skills progressively and build lasting friendships with fellow filmmakers.

Events
Unique celebrations where young filmmakers create their own movies with friends.

After-School Clubs & School Workshops
Partnerships with schools to bring filmmaking into the curriculum and extend learning beyond the classroom. We also offer programmes for community groups and corporate partners.

Our Impact

Student Success
Over 15,000 young people have participated in Sparks programs since 2010. Our students don't just learn to use cameras, they develop confidence, communication skills, teamwork abilities, and creative problem-solving that serve them throughout life.

Exceptional Retention
Over 85% of our students return term after term, and 50% of bookings come from customer referrals, which is a testament to the quality of our programmes and the satisfaction of families.

Career Pathways
Sparks alumni have gone on to pursue careers in filmmaking, journalism, content creation, acting, and YouTube. Many credit their time at Sparks as the foundation for their creative careers.

Festival Recognition
Student films have been selected for international festivals, with awards won at CIFFOW and Afilmsteenfest. These achievements demonstrate the professional quality of work our students produce.

Community Partnerships
We're proud to partner with many exceptional organisations, including some of the UK's leading education providers and media organisations.

Meet Our Founders

Dan Farrell - Founder

Dan co-founded Sparks Film School in 2010 with a vision to make professional film education accessible to young people.

A filmmaker and educator, Dan has built Sparks into the UK's leading youth film school while maintaining the hands-on, student-focused approach that defined the first location.

Dan has delivered sessions at Theo Pathitis' SBS Natwest Bootcamp, Institute of Children's Activity Providers and served as a jury member for AFTF 2025. In 2017, Dan co-authored "The Movie Making Book" for ages 7-12.

Donna Bamford - Founder

Donna has been instrumental in growing Sparks from a single location to multiple franchises across the UK. She oversees marketing while maintaining the company's commitment to quality education and student outcomes. Donna also co-authored "The Movie Making Book" and works directly with franchise candidates to help them build successful film schools in their communities.

Our Team

Behind every Sparks location is a dedicated team committed to student success:

Head Office Team: committed team members managing operations, curriculum, and support

Franchising Team: specialists supporting franchise partners, including a dedicated Success Manager for each franchisee

Franchise Partners: 25+ entrepreneurs running locations across the UK

Workshop Instructors: 200+ qualified film professionals delivering classes

Why "Sparks"?

The name "Sparks" comes from the film industry term for the lighting crew on set; the 'Sparks' are the people who literally bring light to the scene. It's a fitting metaphor for how we view our students: they are the Sparks that illuminate our film studios with their creativity, passion and imagination.

A 'Spark' is the power of potential: every child who walks through our doors has a spark of creativity waiting to ignite.

Our Values

Excellence
We maintain professional standards in equipment, instruction, and curriculum because our students deserve the best.

Inclusion
Every young person, regardless of background or ability, deserves access to quality creative education.

Hands-On Learning
We believe in learning by doing. Students don't just watch—they create, experiment, and discover.

Student-Centred
Small class sizes and personalised attention ensure every student's voice is heard and their creativity is nurtured.

Community
We build lasting relationships with students, families, schools, and partners, creating a supportive network for young filmmakers.

Looking Forward

As we continue to grow, our mission remains unchanged: to inspire and equip the next generation of filmmakers, storytellers, and creative professionals.

We're expanding our course offerings, developing new programmes and preparing to bring Sparks to the United States.

But no matter how large we grow, we'll never lose sight of what matters most: the individual student discovering their creative voice, the moment a shy child steps forward to direct their first scene, the pride on a young filmmaker's face at their film premiere.

That's why Sparks exists. That's what drives us forward.

Join Our Story

Whether you're a parent looking for quality film education for your child, a school seeking a creative education partner, or an entrepreneur interested in bringing Sparks to your community, we'd love to hear from you.

You can find more details on all our activities on our main Sparks Film School website, or get in touch for more details on our UK Franchise opportunities.

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