Academy 360 Showcased As Model Learning Environment
26 February 2010
Today (26 February) Partnerships for Schools (PfS), the government agency responsible for delivering the national Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, held the first academy-focused open day at the award-winning Academy 360 in Sunderland.
The new all-through Academy 360 opened in 2009 as part of Sunderland's innovative BSF project and today has been showcased to a national audience as part of a BSF Open Day, designed to share the BSF journey of schools and Academies with all those involved, and those looking to become involved in the programme.
The academy played host to teachers, heads and governors, local authority education professionals, architects and representatives from the IT and construction industry from across the country. The BSF Open Day, attended by nearly 100 people, provided an opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art building and hear first-hand from those who led on this project about how they created such an inspirational place of learning for its pupils and the wider community.
The event follows on from the academy's success at the latest PfS Excellence in BSF Awards 2009, where it scooped the prize for Best BSF Academy thanks to its well-tailored vision, strong design and excellent stakeholder engagement programme.
The audience heard from Paul Prest, chief executive of the academy, people and property business Gentoo, the lead sponsor, as well as representatives from Academy 360's co-sponsor Sunderland City Council, the architects, Aedas and the PfS academies director.
Mr Prest said: "We are absolutely delighted to have hosted to this event.
"The Academy being showcased in this way is excellent recognition of the strides forward we have taken since moving into our new building last September. To have the opportunity to talk about our experiences, and show how far we have come in such a short space of time has been fantastic."
He added: "We hope that we can act as something of a beacon for other Academies within the programme - demonstrating that with vision and commitment, it is possible to create a learning environment that is really innovative and exciting."
Colin Howell, PfS Academies Director, said: "As the national body responsible for BSF, academies and primary school building programmes, a key role for us is to help share best practice and lessons learned and what better way to do that than through a 'live case study'.
"Today has been all about learning and understanding the journey that all parties - teachers, governors, local authorities, sponsors, the private sector - go on when they become involved in new academies, BSF or primary schools.
"It was wonderful to visit the academy again to see it evolving, and to see pupils and staff taking ownership of its excellent space for learning and teaching."
Academy 360 opened in September 2009, after the merger of Quarry View Primary School and Pennywell Secondary School.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. The aim is to rebuild or renew England's state secondary schools estate during the lifetime of the programme. Over 125,000 pupils and 12,000 teachers are now benefitting from BSF investment in 148 schools across England.
PfS is the government's delivery agent for the full suite of capital investment programmes into schools, including Building Schools for the Future; the Academies programme; the Primary Capital Programme; and the Devolved and Targeted Capital Programmes. For more information about PfS go to: www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk.
