County Council launches school consultation
Warwickshire County Council is formally launching a consultation on proposals to establish Nuneaton’s George Eliot School as a National Challenge Trust school.
Under plans to revitalise education in Nuneaton, the county council is driving forward plans to secure major Government funding and to continue the successful partnership between George Eliot School and North Warwickshire and Hinckley College from September.
The consultation, which runs until February 14, is seeking the views of all stakeholders. The document can be accessed at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schools.
A National Challenge Trust School is a new Government initiative which receives significant additional revenue streams. It is a similar model to the existing Trust School scheme and involves a link-up with a strong educational partner from a high performing school, college or university.
The governors of North Warwickshire and Hinckley College and of George Eliot School have given a commitment to continue their successful partnership.
Mark Gore, Warwickshire County Council’s Head of Transforming Education, said: “ Warwickshire County Council wants to ensure that all secondary students, their families and the wider community have access to high quality learning facilities and services.
“The plan to establish a National Challenge Trust School supports our vision and ambition to ensure that every pupil has the chance to achieve and become the best they can be.
“Delivering a National Challenge Trust School at George Eliot will help us secure vital funding to ensure those higher standards already achieved by the school are sustained and impact still further.”
Comments during the consultation period can be submitted to the Transforming Education project team at Children, Young People and Families directorate, Saltisford Office Park, Ansell Way, Warwick CV34 4UL or email georgeeliotresponse@warwickshire.gov.uk
A report, Raising the Bar – Narrowing the Gap, was presented to Cabinet in November detailing a major project to raise educational standards, improve school buildings and deal with surplus places in Nuneaton.
The review of secondary provision in the area has been driven by the council’s commitment to raise levels of educational attainment and transform secondary schools in the area. It has been set up to improve results, the condition of school buildings and address the fall in pupil numbers which has brought a high number of surplus places.
The DCSF is supporting the need to look at organisational changes for three Nuneaton schools who fall into its National Challenge category of not achieving the benchmark figure of 30 per cent five A*-C grades including English and Maths.
Although school standards in Nuneaton and Bedworth have significantly improved, attainment levels are still below that of other parts of Warwickshire and the country as a whole. In 2007, 48 per cent of pupils in Nuneaton and Bedworth achieved 5 A*-C GCSE grades compared to 62 per cent nationally.
The council believes that although the gap is narrowing, the status quo will not allow schools to make the necessary progress, particularly those facing the most challenging circumstances.
North Warwickshire and Hinckley College is an outstanding college and the Trust will build on the strong partnership which already exists between the school and college to broaden opportunities for students.