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Balls Academy Revolution to Bring University Culture to Schools gathers Pace
Dated: 09/09/2008
Balls' Academy Revolution to Bring University Culture to Schools gathers Pace
Half of English universities have signed up to become Academy sponsors and partners - meaning thousands of secondary school pupils will benefit from an injection of “university culture” to help raise attainment and widen participation, particularly among deprived communities.
Currently 45 out of England’s 88 universities have said they will sponsor or partner an Academy in their area, transferring their “educational DNA” to the schools. In addition, a further 20 universities have shown an interest or are in talks on becoming an Academy sponsor or partner. Durham University, University of Bedfordshire and University of Brighton have joined up in the last few months.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, called today for all the other universities to follow suit and get involved with an Academy. Mr Balls opened the way for an expansion of university involvement in Academies by abolishing in July last year the £2 million sponsorship requirement previously in place. The number of universities involved in Academies has risen from just eight before he made the announcement to 45, almost six times as many, and rising.
As Ministers across the country opened the largest number of schools in decades, Mr Balls said that this was a historic opportunity for universities to get involved in Academies and Trust schools.
Amongst those Academies opening today with University sponsors and partners are: City of London Academy in Islington (opened by Ed Balls); The Priory LSST Academy (opened by Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan) ; Merchants’ Academy Withywood (opened by Schools and Learners Minister Jim Knight); Longfield Academy (opened by Minister for the South East Jonathan Shaw); Harefield Academy; Archbishop Sentamu Academy; Priory Witham Academy; Hereford Steiner Academy; Oxford Academy; Priory City of Lincoln Academy; and Westlakes Academy.
There was a golden chance for higher education to embrace the exciting changes in secondary schools starting this term, including the revised curriculum, changes to GCSEs and A levels, the new Diplomas and offering children the vital benefits that come from staying on in education and training firstly until 17 and then 18.
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