New sixth forms on the way (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
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New sixth forms in Twickenham and Hampton academies are one step closer to reality
7:10am Monday 6th February 2012 in Richmond News By Christine Fleming
Plans: Nick Jones, principal of Twickenham Academy
Plans to create sixth forms at Richmond secondary schools and academies are one step closer to reality, after Twickenham and Hampton academies won ministerial approval to create extra post-16 provision.
The Learning Schools Trust (LST) announced sixth form places would be available at the two academies’ existing sites from as early as September 2012.
A Richmond Council spokesman said the development was part of a wider plan for the borough that was outlined in the Conservative’s 2010 election manifesto.
The spokesman said: “The academies in the borough having sixth forms is indeed part of the council’s overall wish to see sixth forms established in all eight secondary schools/academies in the borough.
“These two academies are adapting their rebuild or partial rebuild plans to incorporate post-16 education.”
Richmond’s Conservative councillors won a vote to push ahead with original plans proposing the creation of sixth forms at schools just before Christmas.
At a full council meeting on Tuesday, December 13, deputy leader of the council Councillor Geoffrey Samuel stated parents, and students, should have the right to choose and said Richmond’s youngsters should not be denied an opportunity to continue their post-16 education in their own secondary schools.
Sue Demont, principal of Hampton Academy said a consultation with parents, students and staff had shown overwhelming support to create the sixth forms.
She said: “As our overall results at 16 improve in quantity and quality, more students want to continue to excel in a smaller setting and use our distinct approach that develop those personal skills and independent approach to learning.”
Nick Jones, principal of Twickenham Academy, said developments represented real alternatives for students and an opportunity to continue studying where they were.
He said: “We are already working with a range of national and local businesses to ensure that the courses we offer in IT and digital media meet the commercial standards and skills expected. “Furthermore, in sport, Twickenham is ideally placed to offer this sort of experience.”
Both academies will focus sixth form provision around their areas of strength and specialism. Twickenham Academy will focus on digital technologies and sport with a range of related complementary A-levels and professional qualifications offered and Hampton Academy will concentrate on performing arts and science.
There will be a one year Foundation programme for students who have yet to get five or more A*-C grades at GCSE at both educational facilities and provision for students to have the opportunity of long term placements working one day a week in industry, business and creative sectors.
Comments(11)
Twickenham Bob
says...
2:30pm Mon 6 Feb 12
Yet despite a staging amount of cash being injected we find out it’s specialising in the same soft subjects of IT and Sport.
This lack of aspiration is letting down the families who live in Whitton and Twickenham. Whilst catering for those not academically minded is to be encouraged, what about some more rigorous subjects like maths or English for the more able students?
Gareth Roberts
says...
2:41pm Mon 6 Feb 12
1) What this report doesn't make clear is that both academies are accommodating the proposed VI Forms by reducing their Year 7 intake. This will mean fewer places available for pupils in areas where there are few, if any, alternate local state provision
2) The article is quite clear that only a small part of the educational spectrum will be on offer at both academies. The Tories would like to give the impression that each VI form will provide the traditional range of subjects that I enjoyed 24 years ago; Several Modern Languages, Maths, the three main sciences, English Language & Literature, Drama, etc. Now that exists at Richmond College (and far more) but it appears that the Tories are hell bent on running down the service there in favour of fragmented provision across a number of sites.
3) This grand scheme will cost in excess of TWENTY FIVE MILLION POUNDS which the Tories are borrowing to be able to afford their scheme.
Then there are all the arguments about small, specialist units not delivering the results and the benefits derived from attending the 'staging post' between secondary education and further education.
I remain to be convinced that this is a progressive step for education in this borough, particularly given the expensive fiasco that was the experience the last time the Conservatives attempted to do it.
JeremyRodell
says...
4:45pm Mon 6 Feb 12
But, as already mentioned, the way the change is being implemented will have the effect of reducing the number of places available for 11-year-olds at the three academies, and would be doing the same at the other five schools if the Council wasn't providing them with £25 million to avoid it. The total number of places for 11 year olds across these five schools will stay the same for the foreseeable future.
At the same time, demand is going up. But the Council is proposing to give the only site currently available for a new secondary - Clifden Road - to the Catholic church for a 5 form of entry Voluntary Aided secondary which will be effectively closed to the vast majority of the borough's children (plus a small primary). That can't make sense.
The Council's consultation on this plan is open for input at http://www.richmond.
gov.uk/home/council_
government_and_democ
racy/council/council
_consultations/consu
ltation_details.htm?
id=C00933
www.richmondinclusiv
eschools.org.uk
TrevorC
says...
6:03pm Tue 7 Feb 12
I doubt that the specialist areas will be at the exclusion of offering maths, english and other core subjects. It could be argued that digital technologies is more core than "soft" as this is an area of key skills to future employment and adapting to a fast changing global economy. http://www.guardian.
co.uk/technology/201
2/feb/01/silicon-lon
don-google-facebook-
tech
AndreD
says...
2:50pm Wed 8 Feb 12
aspicer
says...
2:58pm Wed 8 Feb 12
As for GARETH's surprise at TWNETY FIVE MILLION - this is of course only a fraction of the £100,000,000 pension issue. So we wouldn't be borrowing anything if we didn't have this bottomless pit to fill, plus, we could afford many more additional services too. Have you looked into this pension issue yet Gareth, i think it should be of major concern to all locals. Particularly if our children are missing out because of it. That's not morally right - and the borough is very moral nowadays... i have to go to Soho to dance now the Piano Lounge is on its way out.!
TrevorC
says...
7:31pm Wed 8 Feb 12
The rub is with that last word, reputation. The college still suffers from a low or tarnished reputation in other areas which has made it much less attractive to many in the borough. I've been told that it has an intimidating atmosphere, which would also be offputting.
Richmond College has obviously not done enough to make it appealing and an attractive environment, seen as desirable for in-borough students. Big is not always best and while sixth forms may have their limitations, they will offer other appealing features that Richmond College has to date been unable or unwilling to provide.
It is not too late for them because it is a free market and increasingly driven by choice. The student is also the customer and those who recognise that will be the more successful, in the fast changing world of education.
AndreD
says...
6:44pm Thu 9 Feb 12
TrevorC
says...
11:11pm Thu 9 Feb 12
It would seem to me that Richmond College needs to do a lot more to address its image problem in the borough and to improve public relations.
It is hard to believe that sixth forms alone would cause the college to close. The maximum capacity of all eight secondary schools combined will still only be a relatively small fraction of the college size now.
Gareth Roberts
says...
9:52am Fri 10 Feb 12
The threat is that the VI Forms will come into direct and unfair competition with the the college and will be in the perfect position to pick off the brightest and most able students at the source, if you will. How much easier it will be for schools who have seen the child develop, flourish and thrive in their educational care to spot the most promising candidates and work on them to choose the VI Form rather than the college - they have not only a captive market, they have a captive monopoly.
So as the brightest students are given the hard sell to continue their education at the school, so the 'brain drain' will start at the college and the impressive results they currently enjoy will begin to fall. As standards fall so fewer students and their parents will be encouraged to choose the college over the VI Forms.
It could become a self perpetuating cycle and this is the long term impact which I think this administration has failed to consider as they pursue short term populist gains.
Twickenham resident says...
12:59pm Mon 6 Feb 12
Wish they'd stop the re branding of schools as Academys - sounds like failing schools