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New Studio Schools and Academies launched as part of continued drive to raise standards for all
26 November 2009- New schools will help more practical students shine - - More new Academies given go-ahead -- Next steps on Leicester school improvement announced -A new type of school designed to engage more practical pupils has formally been announced by Schools Secretary Ed Balls. Two pilot Studio Schools, which offer an innovative new curriculum involving practical learning and paid work, have today been approved by Ed Balls. They will be based at Barnfield College in Luton and the Netherhall Learning Campus in Kirklees.The schools, which have a focus on business and enterprise, will cater for 14-19 year olds from a range of abilities. They have been designed to better suit the needs of young people who might not otherwise reach their full potential in a traditional school environment.Students will participate in a range of enterprise activities, learning the majority of the curriculum through practical multi-disciplinary learning and taking part in paid work. On leaving a Studio School, students will have gained qualifications such as GCSEs, A-Levels and Diplomas, opening up a range of progression routes to them including the potential to go to university.Schools Secretary Ed Balls said:“Studio Schools offer students the opportunity to get the skills and qualifications they need through a more practical approach. There are lots of student who will learn better though developing their natural interest in business or practical skills rather than spending most of their time sitting in a traditional classroom.“These first two schools will also provide a model for other studio schools to develop across the country, by demonstrating how they can help to raise standards and offer new opportunities for young people.”The essential elements of Studio Schools are:Small schools: with around 300 students, it will allow them to create the small school environment that evidence shows can play an important role in tackling disengagement and raising attainment. Ensuring student achieve key qualifications: their Studio School students will have gained qualifications opening up progression routes to apprenticeships, paid work, further and higher education.Offer practical learning: they will teach the national curriculum but will have a very different style and ethos to most existing schools, with the majority of the curriculum taught through enterprise themed practical learning. Follow personalised curriculum: through an innovative staffing structure students are supported to tailor the curriculum to their individual needs and aspirations. Real work opportunities: to give them a first-hand insight into the working world, students will spend a significant portion of their weekly time participating in meaningful paid work experience. The schools which are due to open in September 2010 have been designed through the Studio Schools Trust by Edge and the Young Foundation, and developed in partnership with the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Simon Tucker, Chair of the Studio Schools Trust, said:“Studio Schools are at the forefront of innovation in British education. They will offer a bold new approach to learning better suited the needs of the significant number of young people in the country who are more practical learners. We hope that these first schools will only be the start, marking the beginning of a much larger Studio Schools movement.”Geoff Mulgan, Director of the Young Foundation, said:“Studio Schools will break new ground in the British education system, offering a more practical approach to learning that will transform communities and make a real difference to the lives of young people across the country. I am delighted that the first wave of Studio Schools are set to open next year. This is the culmination of a great deal of important work by the Young Foundation, Edge and many others.”Andy Powell, Chief Executive of Edge, said:“There are many paths to success and Studio Schools will offer a new route for young people who are looking for a more practical approach to learning. Studio Schools will provide an invaluable new option for young people who find the current academically focused education system disengaging. We know that there is a real need for this provision and we look forward to seeing many more Studio Schools open in the future.”Proposals for other studio schools in Blackpool, Newham, Oldham and South Tyneside are still in development with the aim to open from 2011 onwards.New academies Ed Balls also announced today that he had agreed to put four new Academies into feasibility. The new Academies are in Wiltshire, North Somerset, Enfield and Hull. 136 academies have been approved since Ed Balls became Secretary of State in 2007.Speaking about the projects Ed Balls said:“I’m delighted to agree these new projects. They are a great example of our Schools White Paper in action. Some are being sponsored by successful schools, led by National Leaders of Education, they involve partnership between strong schools, universities, Further Education and business and will lead to direct benefits to their students. “The Academies programme has had a transformative effect on young peoples achievements across the country and these new projects will continue to raise standards and help children and young people get the education they deserve.“National ChallengeFollowing the publication of two National Challenge Reviews last week the Ed Balls also announced that the Government had completed and agreed a review in Leicester, which includes plans for three National Challenge Trusts.Ed Balls said:“I am pleased that Leicester have now agreed a clear way forward for their National Challenge schools and my thanks to David Woods for his excellent leadership of the review and for the way the authority has worked with him.“We have accepted the implementation plan put forward by the authority and we are now confident that these solutions and National Challenge funding that goes with them, of up to £2.25million, will mean that all pupils in Leicester have the chance to go to a good school that will raise their aspirations and enable them to succeed.”Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. Luton Studio School will cater for around 300 young people aged 14-19 of mixed abilities. The school will be sponsored Barnfield College, which also runs two Academies in Luton that Ofsted graded as making “outstanding progress” this year. The Studio School will benefit from the extensive relationships that Barnfield College has built up with local and regional employers. Under a new scheme, students will be given ‘Barnfield Apprenticeship’ places in areas such as Information Technology, Business Administration and Marketing. They will also be offered work placements within the College’s public operations such cafes and restaurants, creativity suite and retail areas. 2. Kirklees Studio School will cater for around 300 students and be a part of the Nether Hall Learning Campus, which is made up of three maintained schools – an Infant, Junior and high school. With support from local employers, it will have an enterprise-based curriculum for 14-19 year olds. It will focus on offering the Creative and Media Diploma, with ambitions to become centre of excellence, offering significant outreach support to schools and colleges across Kirklees. An interim pilot began in September 2008 with 17 students not engaging in mainstream education. It has been a success, best reflected by the pilot group’s attendance figures going up to 94.8% compared 90.5% the whole school.3. The Studio Schools Trust is a joint venture between Edge and the Young Foundation We are driving forward innovation in the British education system, working closely with a range of local partners and leading national educational bodies to establish the country's first Studio Schools. For more information about the Studio Schools trust, please visit www.studioschoolstrust.org or contact Emma Nixon at emma.nixon@studioschoolstrust.org. 4. The new Academy projects are: Wiltshire 4 The CE diocese of Salisbury, together with Bryanston School and Wiltshire County Council, are working with the Department to establish an academy to replace Salisbury High School, a national challenge school. The academy would open in September 2010 and serve 1450 pupils. Specialisms would be Maths and The Arts (Art, Music, Dance and Drama). North Somerset 1 The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) is working with the Department to establish an academy to replace Wyvern Community School; a national challenge school in Weston-super-Mare. This would be the fourth CLF academy in the south west and the first outside Bristol. Opening in September 2010, the academy would accommodate 1200 11-16 pupils and would specialise in Sport and Business & Enterprise. Hull 3 Hull University, Wyke and Wilberforce sixth form colleges and Hull City Council are working to establish The Northern Academy in Hull. The academy would replace Sir Henry Cooper School; a national challenge school in the north of the City. Opening in September 2012, the academy would serve 1200 11-16 pupils and would specialise in Science and Languages.Enfield 4 Greensward Charitable Trust and London Development Agency are working with the Department to establish an academy to replace Turin Grove School; a national challenge school in Enfield. The academy would open in September 2010 and would serve 1115 pupils. It would specialise in English and Literacy and Sport.5. A copy of the Leicester Review and Implementation Plans can be found at www.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalchallenge/progress.shtml. The plans include proposals for National Challenge Trust Schools for Babington and New College. Vernon Coaker will be writing to Leicester City Council separately, to set out in more detail the expected outcomes for the Fullhurst National Challenge Trust. There will be partnerships between Leicester National Challenge schools and outstanding schools in similar circumstances to support improvement, stronger strategic leadership of National Challenge by the local authority and targeted support to develop school leadership in Leicester.Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2009/0226
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