New Academies Get Go Ahead
Sponsors for Wolverhampton’s two new academies have expressed their delight after plans to rebuild the schools were given the go ahead.
Despite the government scrapping plans to rebuild 60 schools across the West Midlands, South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy (SWB Academy) and North East Wolverhampton Academy (NEW Academy) will still get their new buildings.
The government announced last week that there would be cuts to the national £47 billion Rebuilding Schools for the Future programme.
However, as financial deals had already been signed for work on 26 schools in Wolverhampton, the educational transformation in the city will continue.
The two Academies are sponsored by City of Wolverhampton College, the University of Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton City Council.
Ian Millard, Principal at City of Wolverhampton College, the main sponsor, said: “It’s a huge relief to be told we can go ahead with our plans to rebuild the two Academies and we are delighted that the government recognised how far advanced the plans were for the Academies, and the significance of the building programme to the pupils, staff and whole community.
“This investment in the two new Academies will be a huge boost to the city, providing 21st century education facilities for our young people, and building better and brighter futures for our communities.
“It is great news for the Academies, the communities they serve and the whole city.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Professor Caroline Gipps, said: "As a sponsor of the two Academies, we are delighted that plans to support the build programme are going ahead. We continue our commitment to providing a vibrant learning environment and believe the new purpose-built facilities will make a significant difference to students, staff and the broader community."
Principal of SWB Academy Kerry Inscker said: “We are absolutely delighted that our new build has been given the go ahead. We have already invested a great deal of time holding design consultation meetings with staff, students and our local community and this has resulted in some very exciting plans.
“Since we opened in September 2009, SWB Academy staff have been relentlessly focused on providing a first-class education for our students - it is wonderful to be able to celebrate our first year as an Academy with the news that the funding for our new building is secure.”
Principal of NEW Academy Bal Pierpoint said: “'This is great news for us as it means that our youngsters at the Academy will have access to state of the art facilities and transformational learning and teaching experiences using new technologies.
“Students will be able to learn in new ways and as we tap into the vast expertise and experience of our sponsors, City of Wolverhampton College and the University of Wolverhampton in particular, the potential for excellent achievement is enormous.
“I am thrilled at this news and am confident that this project will progress at a pace and become a real asset to our youngsters and our local community.”
Councillor Neville Patten, Leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said he was delighted that the vision of the council’s Building Schools for the Future programme was now becoming a reality.
South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy opened on the site of the former Parkfield High School in September 2009. In 2012 the Academy will relocate to a brand new building purpose-built secondary school in Bilston.
The Northicote School and Pendeford Business and Enterprise College will merge in September 2010 to form the North East Wolverhampton Academy. A new Academy building will open on the Pendeford Business and Enterprise College site in 2013/14, enabling pupils to be taught in purpose-built facilities which suit the modern curriculum.
