Government Agrees Dynamic Enterprise College for North Somerset
Weston College was celebrating today (Wednesday May 22) as the Government announced that its partnership bid for a new 14-19 education establishment has been successful.
The North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College (NSETC) was given the green light by the Department for Education (DfE). It is one of more than 100 successful new free school applications announced today (Weds).
The application process was extremely competitive and the NSETC was in the top 10 of applications.
The good news comes after months of planning. The bid was led by Weston College with a significant range of partners including the NHS, Clarks, University of West of England and North Somerset Council.
The Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, Dr Paul Phillips said: “This heralds a real change in teaching and learning for the whole of North Somerset. The new institution will deliver to 14 to 19 year olds, with phase one starting in 2014 for 16-19 year olds. Our focus will be on superb teaching and learning complemented by state-of-the-art resources with a commercial and industrial focus.
“The Enterprise and Technology College represents a new model of learning for North Somerset and I'm sure that prospective parents will be as pleased as we are to know that this initiative, which will be ground-breaking in terms of curriculum and concept, has been whole-heartedly supported by the Government.”
The 700-pupil college will have a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) combined with a strong business ethos. Young people will wear business attire and will be expected to attend from 9am-5pm rather than traditional school hours in order to start to prepare them for the world of work. Its ethos is that young people need more than just excellent academic qualifications to succeed in the 21st century; they also need the transferable employability skills and breadth of experience that will make them highly attractive to future employers and universities.
The partners for this project are committed to providing:
- Advice, information and design of the curriculum
- Industry and academic expertise
- Mentoring opportunities for the students
- Access to specialist technical facilities
- Staff development opportunities
- Degree modules for the gifted and talented students
- Opportunity for quality work experience.
On progression from the NSETC, students will be confident, enthusiastic, highly skilled and qualified to enter higher education, further specialist training, apprenticeships, or to move effectively into the workforce.
Already applications are being received from young people across North Somerset. There is clearly going to be a massive demand for places at this new and vibrant institution and we will be organising a parent and student forum in June, further details to follow. Considerable interest has already been received from the NHS in terms of the NSETC being able to provide a future workforce with appropriate skills and training.
The Enterprise College will be based in bespoke premises at a site in the new Enterprise Zone in Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset. The new buildings will open in totality by August 2015 although the first students will be able to start from September 2014. Work will now commence to recruit the Principal and staff teams for this new model of learning.
Announcing the new schools, Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “There are many innovators in local communities set on raising standards of education for their children. I am delighted to approve so many of their high-quality plans to open a free school. “Free schools are extremely popular with parents and are delivering strong discipline and teaching excellence across the country.”
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