12/05/2008 - Green light for Barrow academy

The proposed academy for Barrow has received approval today (May 12) from Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Minister, Andrew Adonis.

The green light for plans to progress with an academy, and significant investment in St Bernard’s and Walney school, will see Barrow’s 11-16 year olds benefiting from a total of £30 million. It represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide the best possible education for young people in Barrow.

The go-ahead will see a new academy school replace Alfred Barrow, Parkview and Thorncliffe schools from September 2009. The academy will be built on the Parkview site and the brand new buildings are expected to be up and running by September 2012. Until then the new academy will be run from existing school buildings.

Planning the Barrow Academy will now move on to the ‘feasibility stage’, where money is released by the DCSF to enable the plans to move on in such areas as:

• establishing a project team which will draw up and educational vision for the academy
• producing a curriculum
• working on outline building design
• developing a range of school policies
• formal consultation with the communities in Barrow on such issues as the admissions policy, curriculum, school uniform
• starting planning on the transition of pupils from their current sites to the academy sites.

It is crucial that a principal for the academy is appointed as soon as possible, and the county council, along with co-lead sponsors for the academy - Barrow Sixth Form College, Furness College, and the University of Cumbria - will be working towards appointing somebody in July this year.

Both the county council and the sponsors have expressed their delight at getting the go-ahead today from the DCSF.

County councillor Jim Buchanan is the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for education. He said:

"This is great news. It's the next step on an exciting path that will take us in a whole new, innovative direction for secondary education in Barrow. 

"The new academy is backed by key education figures in Barrow and beyond, and they are with us in taking this unique opportunity to invest in the education of school children in the area, to achieve even higher standards and quality."

County Councillor Alan Nicholson represents the Parkside area of the town, chairs the Local Committee for Barrow and chairs the Furness Local Partnership Group, one of five set up around Cumbria to review the county's education provision. He said:

"I am delighted that we have received the green light to move on with the next phase of an academy for the town.

"This is a major step forward to attaining the best educational facilities for the children and young people of Barrow. It is important that in order to attain this goal we work in close partnership with all those involved in the academy process, but most importantly with the community of Barrow."

ENDS

Notes for editors

In autumn 2005 Cumbria County Council set up the School Organisation Forum under the chairmanship of former head teacher Roger Alston to carry out a major strategic review of education in the county.

The review is taking place because the number of school age children is going to fall considerably over the next 20 years - meaning one in three classroom places in the county will be empty by 2017 unless something is done now. 

The school reorganisation is designed to ensure Cumbria has the right number of schools of the right size in the right place and with buildings fit for education in the 21st Century.

The decision to revamp secondary education in the area was backed up by local views, with consultation revealing that 67% of local people agreed that secondary education provision in Barrow needs to change. 

Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.

Media enquiries to Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228 226335