Learning Futures
Southampton City Council has confirmed its decision to bring two new academies to the city, marking the final chapter in the Learning Futures review of secondary education.
Oasis Community Learning, a national registered charity that has already been selected to promote a number of academies across the country, was appointed by the council`s Cabinet on July 2.
This decision was subject to a challenge made by the authority`s Children`s Service and Learning Scrutiny Panel, but was confirmed by the Cabinet on Thursday July 19. Plans have now be put in motion to open the new academies and make changes to other city schools in time for the 2008-09 school year.
The Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Learning has written to every parent/carer in the city to tell them about the decision. Staff at the affected schools were also written to before the end of the summer term.
Oasis, the council and the schools which will form the new academies will be meeting over the summer to put their plans in place.
Background to the review
The review began in January 2006 with the aim of ensuring all children and young people in the city are given the opportunity of a good education in Southampton. The city council wants them to benefit from new or modernised buildings, with up-to-date equipment and technology, and highly skilled staff. It also has to address the challenges of improving standards and dealing with the high number of empty places in the city.
During the past 18 months, the city council has been talking to everyone with an interest in the city’s schools and taking their views onboard. This helped it develop a set of proposals to meet the needs of the city. New government legislation also required the council to run a competition asking for organisations to put forward their bids to set up the two new schools.
On July 2, the Cabinet decided to:
Close Grove Park Business and Enterprise College and Woolston School Language College in the East of the city , and choose Oasis Community Learning to establish a new academy school on the Grove Park site from September 2008.
Close Millbrook Community School and Oaklands Community School, and choose Oasis Community Learning to establish a new academy school on the Oaklands site from September 2008.
Other linked decisions were to expand Redbridge Community School, which is a neighbour to Millbrook and Oaklands, and to change The Sholing Technology College from a girls’ school to a mixed school. This is closely linked to Woolston and Grove Park.
Decisions already made in the Learning Futures review earlier this year were:
To expand Bitterne Park School.
To make both Bellemoor School and Regents Park Community College mixed.
All decisions are due to be implemented from September 2008.
Last updated: 9 May 2008
