New Church of England academy opens
08/09/2009
The Northumberland Church of England Academy, one of the biggest and most ambitious projects of its kind in England, opens its doors to the children of east Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the sea and Lynemouth this week.
For Canon Margaret Nicholson, Diocesan Director of Education, and her team, the opening of the 3,000-pupil school – which will eventually offer teaching on five separate campuses – represents a major milestone for Christian-based education in the diocese, and is the culmination of years of planning and negotiating.
“It’s a great moment,” Mrs. Nicholson says, “But this is only the start of the Academy. Now we have to make our vision a reality. Although it is a very large school we’re keen it should have a small school, family ethos with good relationships within the school, with our pupils’ families, and with the wider community.”
The Northumberland Academy is co-sponsored by the Duke of Northumberland and the Diocese, and it will cater for pupils throughout their school career, from the age of three when they enter the nursery until they leave, to go to work or into further or higher education. There will also be a regional all-age provision for children and young people with complex special needs.
The Academy replaces 10 schools - seven first schools, two middle and one high school - which together made up the former Hirst partnership in Ashington. It will open in the 10 existing buildings, but an extensive building and refurbishment programme costing over £48m starts in 2010 so that eventually the Academy will operate across five sites.
Canon Nicholson adds: “Our aim is to offer a high quality education for all, with a broad and balanced curriculum which builds on learner skills and development throughout a pupil’s school career. Staff, working in close collaboration to ensure a consistent approach across all the sites, will ensure that all our children make the progress of which they’re capable. The age range means that there will be continuity through the different stages of learning, uninterrupted by the need to change schools.”
Like all Church of England schools, the Academy will serve the whole community, welcoming children of all faiths and none. Christian principles and values such as respecting the unique worth, value and dignity of each individual, treating others as you would like to be treated, showing care for the vulnerable and needy, and care for the planet, will be the basis of daily life in the Academy.
“The Northumberland Church of England Academy aims to provide an education that stretches the mind, strengthens the body, enriches the imagination, nourishes the spirit, encourages the will to do good, and opens the heart to others,” Margaret Nicholson says.
Executive Director Phil Hearne, who turned a failing school in Paddington into a much-respected academy, heads up a large staff team at Hirst and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, which will include ensuring that the Academy’s Christian character, policies and priorities are understood and practised across all sites. The school has also appointed a full-time chaplain, Alison Harding.
In the lead-up to the existing schools closing for the summer holidays, pupils have been taking part in discussions about uniforms, logos and campus names for the new academy. Staff and facilitators as well as officers from Alnwick Castle and the Diocese have taken part, and our picture shows Stephen Manion, from the Duke of Northumberland’s office, consulting with some of the children.
“For more than 200 years the Diocese and the Duke of Northumberland have together played a valuable role in education in the County,” Mr. Manion, says. “Today our joint goal is simply to serve all the children in the community in which the new Academy is located.”
Bishop Paul Richardson, chair of the Diocesan Education Board, adds: “Helping to set up the Academy has been a major operation for the staff of the Board but we are all excited by the project. It has already made the front page of a national newspaper as the first Academy of its type, and the Board is looking forward to working with our other sponsor, the staff and teachers, the parents, the local community, and, not least, the pupils, to create a school with a reputation for excellence where students are helped to fulfil their potential.”
*Picture by Margaret Herdman
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