Your questions answered about the proposed north Bournemouth Academy
Q. What are Academies?
A. Academies are publicly funded independent local schools that provide a first class free education. They are all ability schools established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working with partners from the local community. Academies provide a teaching and learning environment that is in line with the best in the maintained sector and offer a broad and balanced curriculum to pupils of all abilities, focusing on one of more subject specialisms.
Q. How long would it take for the proposed north Bournemouth Academy to be established?
A. If the proposal is accepted, the Academy will open in the existing Kings High School buildings in September in 2010.
Q. How would the proposed north Bournemouth Academy raise standards?
A. The Academy would raise standards by innovative approaches to management, governance, teaching and the curriculum. The involvement of a sponsor would allow them to bring their skills and expertise to the Academy.
Q. How would the progress of the new Academy be assessed?
A. The Academies Division at the DCSF has a team of advisers who work closely with Academies to monitor their progress and give support and advice. The DCSF would work with Ofsted to carry out a monitoring inspection of the new Academy to ensure that it is on the path to success.
Q. How would the proposed north Bournemouth Academy impact the local community?
A. The new Academy would offer local families an excellent education, new opportunities, and fantastic new facilities that would be available to everyone. The Academy would raise the students’ expectations, building their self-confidence and teaching them the appropriate skills to contribute to society.
Q. What are the specialisms? Why have them?
A. The proposed Academy would specialise in English and Engineering & Design, thus opening up a wide range of opportunities for students of all abilities, encouraging possible career paths in local industries such as tourism and engineering, both of which are important to the Bournemouth economy. No schools in the local area currently offer either of these specialisms, so the Academy has the potential to become a centre of excellence.
Q. What about children with SEN?
A. The Academy would employ specialist staff to co-ordinate programmes of support in collaboration with classroom teachers to cater for special educational needs. It would also bring in specialist support from the local authority or other providers as required.
Q. Will the teaching staff from Kings High School become the teaching staff at the Academy?
A. Most of the teaching staff would stay on at the new Academy. Teaching staff would have the opportunity to participate in training and development prior to the opening of the Academy.
Q. What would Canford School’s duties be as sponsor?
A. One of Canford School’s first duties would be to appoint a Governing Body. The Governing Body would include representatives from the sponsor, educational partner, the Local Education Authority, the teaching staff and parents. Canford School’s links to local engineering and design firms would allow the Governing Body to include representation from those firms. Including local firms will help increase opportunities for the students.
Q. Will there be a new uniform?
A. Options for a new uniform are being considered during March and April (2010). The cost of some uniform items for students who will be in Years 8 - 11 in the academic year starting September 2010, will be covered by grant.
More information will be made available to parents during the summer term when arrangements are finalised.