Hi Folks !

A City Academy for Coulby Newham!

At several meetings near the end of last year and January this year, parents, pupils and interested residents had the opportunity to hear at first hand the plans for changes at Coulby Newham Secondary school site.
These plans are the result of Government initiative inviting business and industry to become involved in helping to improve educational opportunities and months of local discussions brought about by population shifts in Middlesbrough schools. (For some reason Middlesbrough has the fastest falling rate of schoolchildren numbers in the country).
In this case, the Vardy Foundation with Sir Peter Vardy at the helm, will sponsor a City Academy here at Coulby Newham to the tune of £2m. The rest will come from the National Exchequer. The theme for the Vardy Academy will be 'Business and Enterprise'.
Councilor Geoff Connolly for Middlesbrough Council and representatives from Middlesbrough Council Education Department gave the reasons for decisions taken to have the new Academy building on the present school site. John Burns for the Vardy Foundation, described Emmanuel College at Gateshead, which the Vardy Foundation became involved in 12 years ago. John was Headmaster of Emmanuel College. The same principles will be used here. Similarities between Emmanuel College and the old grammar schools were evident. Residents remembered the High Schools, Kirby and Acklam Hall.
Uniforms will be worn. The National Curriculum will be taught plus some practical and vocational courses. Proper time will he given to Religious Education to 'develop a strong and spiritual foundation in a challenging and caring environment'.
The Vardy Academy will 'teach the aims and values of all the main religions of the world'.

The main entrance to the Vardy Academy will be via a new roundabout on Stainton Way. Site traffic and later the school traffic will use the same entrance.
The building will be much larger than the present one. There'll be up to the minute technology and science tabs and equipment. Also a lecture theatre. Outside - rugby, football pitches. Some all weather too. The all glass main entrance will be quite something.
Who will be the new Academians? All the youngsters in the present catchment area. Also those from Brackenhoe School (Prissick Base site), which will close, and Beverley School.
There will be a range of facilities for children with special needs including those visually impaired and those hard of hearing. lt will have 2 storeys, with a lift for disabled youngsters. This will be the only Academy with Special needs Facilities.
There will be no selection.
A 6th Form will mean children can be educated at Coulby all the way through from tweens to teens.
Members of the community will be able to use the school facilities after school hours. It's hoped to 'develop close relationships between the Academy and parents and the Community'.
With no disrespect meant to the present school and hard working teachers the Vardy Foundation intends to run 'a new type of school with excellent new facilities' and provide all children with 'an excellent education which will allow each one the very best start in life'.
They want to 'raise standards, developing in the students a determination to succeed'.
Examination success is important if they want to ' ensure a high proportion of students go on to university and higher education'.
At t the end of the day they hope to produce 'competent and well-adjusted young people who have excellent employment prospects'.
If all goes to plan construction work will begin in May this year.
The transition period wilI last for 15 months. During this time the children from Coulby and Brackenhoe will be working on the same timetables so that their final combining in September 2003 as the Vardy Academy wilt be smooth and easy. The existing school building will then be demolished.
Regarding the Youth and Community Centre adjoining the present school Councilor Connolly said he will personally guarantee we will not lose any after school facilities. They will be as good as they are now if not better, on the same site. They may be tied up with the Rainbow Leisure Centre. He is aware of the desperate need for youth facilities in our area.

Changes are on the way for Coulby Newham.

We hope to be able to update residents regularly with progress of the building and such. This is such an important issue that if anyone has questions they would like to ask please send them to Coulby News and we'll send them together to John Burn or one of the Middlesbrough Council representatives for answering in the next issue of the Coulby News.

Here's the first one. "Why a City Academy?" We're not a city yet. Does someone have a crystal ball?