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Ref: 329/08 7 October 2008
Consultation Underway Into Proposed Academy Plans For Ellesmere Port
Formal consultation is underway into plans for an Academy in Ellesmere Port.
Cheshire County Council wants to gather as many views as possible before the closure date of November 14.
The proposed Academy would replace Cheshire Oaks High School (a Specialist Sports College) and Ellesmere Port Specialist School of Performing Arts (EPSSPA).
£25 million of Government funding could be made available to Ellesmere Port if the Academy plan goes ahead.
Sponsors would be the University of Chester as lead sponsor, with co-sponsorship from the Diocese of Chester and Cheshire County Council and subsequently Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Consultation documents will be distributed to all local secondary and primary school parents and carers, school governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, trade unions and other interested members of the local community.
The document is also available at http://www.proposeduniversityceacademy.org/
which includes an overview of how the proposed Academy would work, what will happen to the staff and pupils at the predecessor schools, admissions criteria, project timescales and a feedback form.
While no firm decisions have yet been made, the Academy could have places for around 1350 pupils and be sited on the EPSSPA site.
It would be a faith Academy with an ethos based firmly on Christian values however there will be open access and a non-selective admissions policy. There would be no academic entry tests and no bias towards faith or places of worship.
If approved the Academy would work collaboratively with other primary and secondary schools and education institutions, families, the local community and businesses, and further and higher education organisations, to provide an enhanced learning and teaching environment.
County Council Children’s Services Executive Member David Rowlands said: “We need as many views as possible before a decision is made.
“We have before us a great opportunity, to take advantage of more than £20 million of extra funding which would be made available for Ellesmere Port.
“The sponsors are also deeply committed to education and have a wealth of experience.
“I would urge everyone to read the consultation document and tell us what they think of the proposals over the coming weeks.”
Public ‘drop – in’ consultation sessions will also take place on October 20 between 4pm and 7pm at Cheshire Oaks High School and October 21 between 4pm and 7pm at EPSSPA.
These sessions are to consult regarding the closure of the two schools, which is a prerequisite to creating the Academy. The sessions are open to all and will provide an opportunity to discuss the proposals with County Council officers on a one-to-one basis who will record any comments to be fed back to local Councillors and the Government’s Department for Children, Schools and families.
In addition Academy Information Sessions will be set up which will focus on the proposed Academy and its benefits for Ellesmere Port.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: For More Details Please Contact County Councillor Rowlands on 01244 300655 and TLC Project Manager David Ayres on 01244 972141. |