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Tuesday, 9th February 2010

Preston's new academy to get £25m revamp

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Published Date: 07 September 2009
A £25million development will be the centrepiece of Preston's new academy, the Lancashire Evening Post can reveal.
The controversial Fulwood Academy opened its doors on Monday to its first year seven pupils, and was visited by junior education minister Iain Wright MP.

By the end of the week the building will be bustling with 1,014 pupils.
Plans are already in the pipeline to replace the existing school with a £25m new development.

Architects have drawn up plans to demolish the former Fulwood High School and Arts College building in Black Bull Lane.

Draft plans involve all but the existing arts centre and hall being replaced with a modern building on land fronting the current school.

Official proposals have not yet been submitted, but the school's new trustees, The Dunstone Foundation, headed by Carphone Warehouse boss Charles Dunstone, hope the new facilities will be ready by 2012.

Sixth form provision will be established "at the earliest opportunity" which it is believed could be as soon as next September.

During the summer holidays the school saw £250,000 worth of improvements, which included repainting, a remodelling of the library, a new media centre and a student resource area complete with Internet pods.

The trustees have also shelled out around £25,000 on new badged outdoor jackets for every pupil.

Kath Moss, who has been headteacher at Fulwood High for the past nine years is acting as interim principal until Christmas.

She said: "It's all very exciting and one of the key features of the new academy is the cutting edge technology.

"Our arts specialism will remain and we will add to that creative digital and media technologies.

"We have always had a house system here, but that is going to be the lynchpin to drive forward achievement and pastoral care.

"Pastoral care is something Charles Dunstone wants to be a key strength of the academy."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who represents Fulwood, said the new school was "good news for the area."

He added: "It is absolutely good for Fulwood and I think that it will be a big boost. Providing the most up-to-date facilities for our youngsters is important.

"It is about more than just the premises though. Promises must be delivered and there must be sustained investment for many years in the future."

Fulwood High officially closed and the moved out of Lancashire County Council control on August 31.

The new academy is now managed directly by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its sponsor Mr Dunstone.

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  • Last Updated: 08 September 2009 8:24 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Preston
 
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1

Sipsina,

07/09/2009 14:12:32
With today's announcement on lowering the barrier for academy sponsorship, it sounds like more and more control is being taken away from local councils. This is bad news.
2

turin,

07/09/2009 16:45:06
so much listening to the public, consultations that are ignored, bills pasted through Preston city council ignored, concerned parents are ignored, trade unions ignored, trade councils ignored, all pushed aside.

No wonder people have lost faith in the political system, they can see it for what it is a cartel between politicians, business and the city. They expect people to object using the system, consultations etc but THEY made the system THEY control the overall discussions. Wait till the Tithebarn project...i bet business wins that one as well and the people are ignored!

CAPITALISM IS A CARTEL!
3

turin,

07/09/2009 16:49:07
oh yer how long has the LEP had the story embargoed from, don't you think the public has the right to know when one of our cities schools is being privatised and sold off!



4

Mr Realist,

07/09/2009 17:04:29
Inarticulate ranting.

All academies are under the direct control of the DCSF. They are accountable to the DCSF. Preston is getting significant funding from the DCSF to develop education provision. Children will benefit enormously from this funding.

The funding will not be to the detrmiment of other schools in Preston who have typically enrolled the more able and affluent children. The academy however will introduce a challenge for other more popular high schools to raise their game.

Sixth form provision however is another debate. Excellent for the academy, but will introduce over provision and threaten Preston College.
5

Prestoncityboy,

Chorley 07/09/2009 17:07:40
It is a sad day in Preston's history.

i never thought I'd ever say this but I shamed to be a Prestonian.
6

Jack Davenport,

Preston 07/09/2009 17:47:42
COmment #4 - Some people find education and children's futures a very emotive subject. They may also feel that they have a right to feel aggrieved. The consultation for the academy was pretty poor in my opinion and did not properly address the concerns at hand. I wouldn't agree that it was the result of a 'cartel', but the putting together of the proposal was not handled with much sensitivity to people's concerns.

Furthermore, Academies were originally sold as being a means to assist children in poorer areas, but this has not worked out as the government intended, with Academies cherry picking pupils at the expense fo those from poorer backgrounds. The proposal did not adequately address this. You say children will benefit from the academy, but I would ask which children and from which background?

It is only recently (in fact, the last day or two) that we have seen some progress from the government over academies and the emphasis now on educational ability of the sponsors rather than being able to stump up the capital. Sadly, that is too late for this academy and we are stuck with it.
7

Robert Boswell,

Ashton 07/09/2009 18:30:36

The last paragraph gives it away. Mr. Dunstone will be involved in the running of this school. Charles Dunstone went to "Uppingham" and independent, fee paying school. What dies he know about the state education system. Probably, the only time he has been anywhere near a state school is when he took over Fulwood.

Charles Dunstone was born In Essex - neither he nor any of his family life in Preston. He only visits Preston to oversee the running the small part of his business empire that resides in Preston. What does he know of Preston and its people? Running which includes not allowing Trade Union representatives onto his premises.

Finally, the question must be asked why of all the schools, in all the country, does Mr. Dunstone choose the one nearest the Tulketh Mill.
8

ATP,

Preston 07/09/2009 19:27:14
Now then, anyone aware that the boundaries for high school admissions have been altered lately in this area??
Suddenly children who live at the north end of Fulwood and have always been in the catchment area for Broughton High School suddenly find they have all been changed (ratehr quietly mind you!) and they are now out of the "zone" and come under....lets see, oh the new academy. Pretty suspicious I think.
9

ATP,

Preston 07/09/2009 19:29:04
Come on LEP, why not do some digging and do an investigative story on WHY the school "priority" boundaries have been changed. Now a child in North Fulwood is not in the area for Broughton, but priority is given to a child who could live in KIRKHAM.
10

Robert Boswell,

07/09/2009 19:59:08
The last paragraph gives it away. Mr. Dunstone will be involved in the running of this school. Charles Dunstone went to "Uppingham" and independent, fee paying school. What does he know about the state education system. Probably, the only time he has been anywhere near a state school is when he took over Fulwood.

Charles Dunstone was born In Essex - neither he nor any of his family life in Preston. He only visits Preston to oversee the running the small part of his business empire that resides in Preston. (Running which includes not allowing Trade Union representatives onto his premises.) What does he know of Preston and its people?

Finally, the question must be asked why of all the schools, in all the country, does Mr. Dunstone choose the one nearest the Tulketh Mill.
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