Cheltenham Academy gets go ahead
The proposed All Saints’ Academy for Cheltenham has been given the final go-ahead by the government.
Gloucestershire County Council received a letter from Partnership for Schools, confirming that the final business case had been approved.
-
An artist's impression of the new academy building
In the letter, £24.6m of funding has been given the green light, meaning that construction work can begin on site next month.
The All Saints’ Academy will be built on the site previously occupied by Cheltenham Kingsmead School.
Both the Catholic Diocese of Clifton and the Anglican Diocese of Gloucester are sponsoring the Academy.
Cllr Jackie Hall, Cabinet member for schools, said: “This is another key milestone in an exciting project.
"The Academy will bring a new, state of the art facility which will provide places for 900 11-16 year olds.
"There will also be a sixth form offering a variety of academic and vocational courses, that will provide real opportunities for young people as they go forward into adult life.”
Cllr Suzanne Williams, county councillor for Springbank, said: “Not only will the Academy provide an exciting learning environment for young people in north-west Cheltenham, it will also provide first class facilities for the wider community and will help support life-long learning in the area.
"All in all, it provides a fantastic opportunity for Cheltenham, both now and in the future.”
Helena Arnold, Director of the Children and Young People’s Department for the Diocese of Gloucester, said: “So much work has been going on behind the scenes to start shaping the new Academy.
"We have been working closely with the architects and the staff and students of Christ College to develop an innovative and imaginative design for the new building.
"It is fantastic that we can now move onto the construction phase working with Skanska, the appointed contractor, to build excellent educational facilities for not only the young people of Cheltenham, but for the whole community.”
Peter Bradshaw, Clifton Diocese, said: “The creation of a new Academy will provide a once in a generation opportunity to invest in education and learning.
"The facility that we can now create will not only benefit students currently at Christ College, it will provide opportunities for years to come which will make a positive difference to literally thousands of lives.”
The Academy will replace Christ College in Cheltenham and will open its doors in September 2011. It will specialise in sports, science and religious education.
9 Comments
by jimjam, cheltenham
Thursday, March 11 2010, 1:39PM
“it's one more school and lots more kids”
by lu, cheltenham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 8:38PM
“it is only the children that started secondary school last year (current year 8's) that have to stay in education until they are 18. this however, does not mean they must stay in school/sixth form. they will be encouraged to get apprenticeships or go to college as well, all depending on what will help the child enter gainful employment that they wish to follow.
academy does sound better (or more modern?) but i hope that a brand new state of the art building will encourage all to think of it in a different way to which Kingsmead was thought of.
'Academies are state-maintained independent schools set up with the help of outside sponsors. Former prime minister, Tony Blair, established academies in 2000 to drive up standards by replacing failing schools in struggling education authorities.'
I really hope that this will not stick with the new academy, (the underachievement) that the new build and fresh enthusiasm will create a learning environment that will break the previous conceptions and realities of kingsmead and will turn itself into a thriving new establishment. this is way over due!”
by Ian, Cheltenham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:15PM
“So this new accademy will specialise in science and religious education. Two subjects that dont always sit happily together. I presume that in the morning you will be taught that God created the world in 7 days, and in the afternoon you will be taught the big bang theory and evolution. Wont that be a bit confusing, or will the religious slant of the school mean that they will only teach science that fits in with religious doctrine like intelligent design?”
by Cheesed Off, Cleeve
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:02PM
“Are you a moderator or just a censor, Moderator?”
by Dynamite, Hartpury
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:01PM
“Academy sounds so much better than Comprehensive doesn't it?”
by Damp Squib, Woodmancote
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:59PM
“Academy sounds so much better than Comprehensive don't you think?”
by Quasi, Cheltenham
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:43PM
“Religion has no place in modern schools, we should be making efforts to remove it not making special provision for it. Schools are places to teach you the facts of life, not indoctrinate children into a 2000 year old fairy tale. This is now the only secondary school for the Arle, Hesters Way, Springbank and Springfields areas, will the council be making provision for those who wish their children to receive a secular education?”
by p, chelt
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:40PM
“I thought children had to go to school now til they we're 18?”
by Tom, Local
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 6:34PM
“Who are the pea-brains who get comments sections closed because they don't know how to write a reasoned statement?”