Proud day as pupils spend first day at the new Gloucester Academy
YOUNGSTERS dusted off their pencil cases and pulled on their blazers for the start of a new era at Gloucester Academy.
The controversial new academy opened its doors for the first time yesterday.
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Fresh start: Marketa Dunova, Oliver Portillo and Calvin Spencer
Children in Years 7 and 10 pupils were welcomed into the academy, with girls joining the school in Cotteswold Road for the first time.
Marketa Dunova, who was a pupil at Tredworth Junior School, was one of the first female students to join the academy.
The 11-year-old, who originally comes from the Czech Republic, said: "It is exciting. We have been talking about the school and the timetable and things on our first day.
"The uniform is nice, I like it and a lot of my friends have come here too which is good."
In February, education bosses announced that Bishops' College and Central Technology College would shut to make way for the academy.
Under the plans, Year 7 pupils will be taught on the Central site at Cotteswold Road, bringing girls to the school for the first time.
Older pupils will stay at their current schools at Bishops' College and Central, which will be known as 'schools of learning'.
Calvin Spencer, who is in Year 10, said he was getting used to seeing girls at the school and thought the academy would bring more opportunities.
The 14-year-old from Tredworth, said: "It is a bit strange to see girls walking around.
"But the academy is better than I thought it would be.
"I thought it would be a bit messed up for the first day but it is good."
Triplets Oliver and Alex Portillo – whose sister Christina goes to Ribston Hall High School – have been at Central for three years.
They said they were looking forward to the rest of the school joining them today. Alex, 14, said: "It is really exciting. There have been a lot of changes that have been made with new teachers, different classes and the internet cafe, but it is really good and I am looking forward to when everybody else comes."
His brother Oliver, who is also in Year 10, said: "It has been fun but nerve-wracking because we don't know some of the teachers. I have been here for three years so it is a bit strange that everything has changed."
It is hoped a new £21milion state-of-the-art building will be up and running by 2013 at Cotteswold Road to bring everyone together. The funding is up in the air however until after the Government's October spending review.
Jane Newns, who is teaching maths at the new academy, said she was enjoying her first day.
She said: "The children are doing really well. They have been very well behaved and I am looking forward to the rest of the year."
Jane Featherstone, deputy head on the Cotteswold Road campus, said the academy would be focusing on the transition from primary school to Year 7.
She said: "We have got tutors teaching the students a core subject and the students will predominantly be in their tutor rooms for many of their core lessons, with the teachers moving around like they would in primary school.
"For the other subjects like technology students will have to go to their classrooms.
"It is lovely to see them and it has been a good start to the academy."
16 Comments
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by Victoria Cross, Devon
Saturday, September 11 2010, 6:36PM
“I see Jane Featherstone has bagged herself another non-job.”
by Kay Powell, Robinswood
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 3:35PM
“Marilyn, I stand corrected. Five minutes makes all the difference.”
by Marilyn, Abbeydale
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 9:13PM
“Kay
The school finishes it working day at 2.40 and not 2.45 as you stated.”
by Abbeydale pensioner, Abbeydale
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 9:10PM
“Why does'nt anybody give the new Academy a chance? None of these negative comments can be very good for the pupils. Just wait and see what happens in October when the goverment let us know how much money they are giving them. We might be pleasantly surprised. Why can't we be positive over this and not so negative.”
by Kay Powell, Robinswood
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 2:56PM
“At 2.45 pm on Monday, the bowels of Hell opened and out spewed the myriad demons who had been imprisoned there for many hours. Yes, Gloucester Academy had finished its first day, and I was in the Saintbridge area at the time!”
by Joe K, Barton & Tredworth
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 2:52PM
“Thanks, S. I did wonder why there were so many pupils with the new blazers still heading up Denmark Road when I dropped my daughter off to school. I could only assume they were getting buses to the CTC site.
A new building would have a lot going for it, but getting the funding now doesn't seem likely. Welcome to The Fall.
That sounded ruddy mysterious...”
by Jimmy, glos
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 2:05PM
“Sorry you have lost me.
I was just saying your comment on ¿Culture shock¿ is some what old fashioned don¿t you think? We live in a time of many different faiths and cultures these days. So I just think it was a bit un-needed?”
by Joe K, Barton & Tredworth
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:53PM
“Does an error occur whenever someone says 'ruddy', now?”
by jimmy, glos
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:36PM
“Joe K Tredworth
¿CULTURE SHOCK¿ lol. Its 2010. Not 1950. Though I was under the impression there was a Muslim faith school in the area, or is this not the case?”
by S, Gloucester
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:35PM
“Just to clear a few things up as a parent of a year 7 girl who started at the Academy yesterday...
The 2 schools are running side-by-side with all new intakes at the former Central site. Current Bishops students are staying at their site for the forseeable future. The original plan before the Government backed out of their promise was that the Bishops site would be shrunk year on year until such a size that it can be physically merged into the Cotteswold Road site. This would have been about 2013 by which time the new building would've been built and the Academy becomes "one" in a state-of-the-art building. Whether this happens now no-one knows at the moment.
From my (maybe naïve) point of view, the £20 million needs to be given out for the new build as the former Saintbridge/Central buildings are really showing their age - I went to school there in the late 80s and they were old and tatty then, having seen them now they aren't much better. Ok, they've done their best over the years to keep them up together but they really are showing their age now (bear in mind some of the buildings there date back to the 50s). I can't comment on the Bishops site as I've not seen it but I suspect it isn't much better.
I know it's nowhere near as simple as I make out but it has to be false economy to keep these 2 sites open longer than the planned 3 or 4 years; having to pay for repairs and expensive fuel bills and the like. I'd imagine the new building would last for say 20 years before any major work was needed - so thats £20 million over 20 years - £1 million a year. Surely that is worth it when you consider the potential the children will have with all new facilities. That has to be better than keeping 2 crumbling school sites open for as long as possible just because the Government [might] refuse to commit to Gloucester's future generations.”