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Sunderland BSF Bulletin - Issue 2Sunderland's Building Schools for the Future programme including Academies
Leader's delight at go-ahead for BSF and three "Sunderland Model" academies Government Ministers have backed new plans for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, including “Sunderland Model’’ academies. Sunderland City Council Leader, Councillor Bob Symonds, explains what it will mean for children and young people.
Sunderland has a proud history of collaborative working to deliver the best learning opportunities for children and young people. Back in 2004, the council introduced plans for major secondary school renewal, with £100m of funding in the first phase of the BSF programme. The council, supported by stakeholders, schools, parents and public, took the view that the government’s approach to Academies did not fit with partnership working in the city and actually threatened to undermine improvements already underway. As Leader of the Council, I joined senior officers and key stakeholders to engage with ministers to develop a new approach. We developed a model whereby Academies would retain their independence but work in partnership with the family of schools, Sunderland University and the City of Sunderland College and the “Sunderland Model” was born. The BSF first phase programme became one new school, three major school refurbishments and three “Sunderland Model” academies. Each academy has attracted a local lead sponsor selected by the Council. Uniquely the council is a co-sponsor, unlike the national model for academies, and will contribute £1 million in each academy. All sponsors have agreed to keep admissions consistent with current practice - with no selection, to guarantee inclusion for pupils with special educational needs, maintain low exclusion levels and support behaviour policies, to ensure the city’s successful 14-19 strategy is supported and each academy will educate pupils up to sixteen years of age in partnership with the City of Sunderland College. We are delighted to have won support for our unique model which meets the educational needs of the city in a way that reflects the challenges but also the spirit of partnership that we have in the city. An independent evaluation was commissioned and concluded that the model would be able to raise standards and enhance life chances for learners, secure commitment and vision from sponsors and assist a wider programme of community regeneration. Now we are negotiating the remainder of the BSF process to put the model into practice and to turn our vision into reality for all our young people.
Sunderland College
Sunderland College is committed to a close strategic partnership with Sunderland City Council, its secondary schools and its strategic partners. This is evidenced by its recent (November 2006) national Beacon Award for 14-19 collaboration for its work in creating three joint 6th Form Colleges in partnership with Sunderland 11-16 comprehensive schools including the three new academies. Indeed it is these three joint 6th Form Colleges that provide the 6th Form tier for the three new academies. The partnership with the Washington Schools has led to the building of a new 6th Form College at Usworth which received its first cohort of students in September 2006. Plans are well advanced with the school partners in the north of Sunderland to build a new 6th Form College at St Peters for an intake of students in 2008. The College is also working closely with school partners throughout the City to develop vocational learning facilities at Harraton and Pallion. Principal of Sunderland College, Angela O’Donoghue, said : "The College looks forward to working with the City and its BSF team in the future to further create the world class educational facilities for local residents, especially those in the 14-19 cohort". Oxclose Community School - latest developments at our first BSF school Oxclose Community School will be the first BSF school to be completed in Sunderland, and one of the first in the country. The £10 million refurbishment of the specialist performing and visual arts college will be completed in spring 2007. The school is proud of its inclusive approach, delivering Every Child Matters outcomes by its commitment to personalised learning.
The new school was planned through genuine student involvement. Pupils were consulted in the early stages. Engaging with school staff in the Design Festival at the Stadium of Light, they went on to develop projects linked to specific areas of design which helped to inform the architects' plans ... and, ultimately, the school's re-construction.
Learning spaces which are now complete include :
The new multi-media resource centre Containing state of the art ICT equipment, the centre has been designed to develop independent learning skills. Design, layout and equipment are all helping to support new ways in which to deliver the curriculum, to meet the needs of individual students.
A new performing arts suite This brand new block contains dance and drama studios, high-tech music rooms, recording and video editing studios, and a suite of individual music practice rooms.
Work throughout the school which is nearing completion includes : High quality re-design and refurbishment of all departments Learning environments supported by 21st century ICT facilities New vocational learning opportunities, particularly in Science and Technology With the help of BSF, Oxclose now looks forward to taking its aims and ambitions to the next level. With a proven track record as a true community school, it will share its new facilities through a wide range of after-school and weekend activities. It will continue to support the collaborative approach to delivery of education ... in Washington, Sunderland, and beyond. Current progress and next stepsAs outlined above, work continues at Oxclose, and we look forward to the completion of our first BSF school in spring 2007. The BSF / Academies programme was discussed at the latest meeting of the Council's Cabinet, on 6 December. A progress report was approved by the meeting. Processes and structures are now in place to enable development of the remaining schools, and create three new academies. Business cases are now being prepared for approval. Our initial ideas can now start to be transformed into reality. Key milestones to February 2007 are :
Changes
Terry Walsh, former Head of Standards and Quality and Acting Director of Education, has announced his retirement from Sunderland City Council and will be leaving us later this month. After 37 years' service in Sunderland - in schools and the local authority - we would like to take the opportunity to thank Terry for the considerable contribution he has made to education in the City. A special thanks goes to Terry for his recent involvement in - and leadership of - the BSF programme and development of Sunderland Model Academies. We wish Terry well with his retirement.
Continuity in the delivery of the programme will be provided by Beverley Scanlon who will continue to drive the programme forward. Beverley chairs the BSF / Academies Delivery Team, attends the BSF / Academies Project Board and regularly advises progress to the project owner, sponsor, key partners and stakeholders.
Additional management capacity will be added to the process via :
To find out more...Please contact John Wiseman (BSF Communications Manager) or any member of our project team. Alternatively, visit our website page . Thank you for your interest in the BSF and Academies programme in Sunderland.
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