Press release: Closure agreed to make way for academy

East Sussex County Council agreed the milestone in the project on March 16 which paves the way for the creation of a brand new academy school to be built on the ETC site.

The decision was made at a meeting of the Lead Members for Children's Services following widespread consultation amongst staff, students, parents and the local community.

Councillor Meg Stroude, East Sussex County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families, said: “This project represents an incredibly promising future for the education of young people in Eastbourne. The creation of an academy means pupils will be given a real 21st century learning experience with modern facilities and an exciting curriculum.”

The meeting heard there had been a six week statutory consultation period about the closure notice of ETC where people were asked to make their views known – no objections were raised.

The final decision about the new academy will be made by the Secretary of State. If agreed it would be run by a trust led by the lead sponsor, Sussex Downs College with East Sussex County Council as a co-sponsor. The University of Brighton would provide further support as a partner in the project.

If approved the project will unlock millions of pounds worth of investment for students and would mean much-needed brand new buildings and facilities.

The proposed new school will have modern buildings and equipment and a curriculum personalised to each and every student. There will be a focus on development and research to make sure the school continues to improve and challenge young people which will benefit not just students and their parents but the wider Eastbourne community.

Throughout the process all sponsors have continued to stress that it would be an all ability, non-selective school for local pupils catering for up to 180 pupils a year, 900 in total.

If there are more parents applying than places, the County Council's normal admission policies would apply. The new academy would provide for pupils with special educational needs in improved facilities.

Following the meeting Councillor David Elkin added: “This is a real milestone in this project and means we as the collective sponsors, together with young people, their parents and the Eastbourne community, can get really excited about the changes in education this could mean for the town.”

Further information

The Government has already agreed the Sponsors' outline vision for the new academy which would replace ETC. At the moment the proposal is the new Academy would open in the school's existing buildings in 2010 with a target to open the new building in 2013.

The sponsors and the County Council have already set out their plans around the ethos and values for the proposed new school, namely to drive up standards and expectations for all students. They continue to stress that it would be an all ability, non-selective school for local pupils. If there are more parents applying than places, the County Council's normal admission policies would apply. The new Academy would also provide for pupils with special educational needs in improved facilities. It would cater for up to 180 pupils a year, 900 in total.

The sponsors have appointed Keith Pailthorpe, the current Headteacher of Eastbourne Technology College, as Principal-Designate of the proposed Eastbourne Academy. This follows a full application process including presentation and interview to the sponsors, DCSF and a serving Academy principal.

During the consultation, as well as the 3,200 brochures and questionnaires distributed, a public meeting was held as well as meeting with staff. As part of the sponsors' consultation a series of playground meetings for parents and staff meetings were held in the area.

Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds, including high performing schools and colleges, universities, and businesses. Some are established educational providers, and all of them bring a record of success in other enterprises which they are able to apply to their Academies in partnership with experienced school managers. All academies are bound by the same School Admissions Code, SEN Code of Practice and exclusions guidance as all other state-funded schools. All new academies are also required to follow the National Curriculum programmes of study in English, maths, science and ICT.

For more information on the Academy proposal visit the Eastbourne Academy website.

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