Academy schools launch new era of learning across city
HUNDREDS of pupils are today getting their first taste of life at two new academies.
Although most secondary pupils in Stoke-on-Trent returned to the classroom yesterday, students at the academies enjoyed a slightly longer break as staff finished preparations for the new term.
Blurton High School reopens today as the Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy, while in the north of the city, the former Brownhills Maths and Computing College is reborn as the Co-operative Academy at Brownhills.
One change which parents will already have appreciated is the free uniforms, which every pupil has been issued with.
Despite its new name, headteacher and ethos, the new academy at Blurton will continue to use the former high school buildings until a £20 million complex on the site is ready in 2012.
Staff were yesterday acclimatising to the revamped buildings, which now feature redecorated classrooms, improved reception and dining areas, a conservation area and a number of new seats and benches around the site.
The academy's director of extended services, Steve Bradley, hopes the pupils are as excited about the changes as the staff.
He said: "We have spent about £130,000 on a range of interim improvements to the site over the holidays and it really looks fantastic.
"The curriculum will also have a whole array of additional, different and exciting amendments to it.
"While we have had fantastic results this year, thanks to the hard work of our staff, we are aiming to improve year-on-year to make this an outstanding academy."
The academy, under head Mark Stanyer, will initially cater for 733 pupils, but the intake should rise to about 1,000 by the time the new site opens.
The new name is also just one of many important changes at Brownhills.
The academy's principal, Andy Stanier, who had previously been the high school's headteacher, said he was looking forward to starting the new term.
He said: "It is a very exciting time for us as the opening of the academy is the start of a new era.
"The independence we are getting as an academy is giving us the opportunity to make curriculum changes such as allowing pupils to take GCSEs early.
"We will also have post-GCSE provision on the site when we get the new building in September 2012.
"We are increasing staff levels, as we are concentrating on developing literacy levels and developing new specialisms in maths, computing and business."
Labour councillor Debra Gratton, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, welcomed the opening of the two academies.
She said: "This is an exciting and significant step forward in helping to improve the education of our young people.
"Over the past few months, sponsors, school staff, parents and pupils have all been working together to bring about important changes to these schools.
"We wish them every success as they begin a new era for learning in the city."
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2 Comments
by nikki, Blurton
Tuesday, September 14 2010, 2:48PM
“Must admitt uniforms are very nice, but the same old bullying problems are still there. Since my daughter been back school after summer holidays she has been bullyied by other pupils and certain members of staff make out she is bullying other people i know she is no angel but come on if your face fits again i went this school and was the same then so what is going to change just because its changed to a new name its the same old school ???”
by Tim Diggles, Tunstall, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire
Thursday, September 09 2010, 11:03AM
“This is totally wrong and the worst thing the last government did. There is absolutely no justification for schools to leave any local authority. It is taking funds away from other schools and will just create problems in the future with even more tiers to education.
Education for children should have no financial link with companies and the co-operative movement should know better. The education departments in local authorities have people who can see the overall needs of the curriculum, trends in population, offer advice and training at a very high level that any locally run school cannot possibly have. This is a backward step.”