Plymouth's youngsters go back to new schools and "new opportunities"
New term means new schools and new opportunities for hundreds of young people in Plymouth.
Around £30 million worth of Council funding has helped create new facilities in the city's schools and academies.
The new term brings new facilities for:
- University Technical College in Devonport
- Marine Academy Plymouth in St Budeaux
- All Saints Academy in Penny Cross
- Riverside School in Barne Barton
Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “It’s been yet another year of building to provide the best facilities for our young people. September sees the doors open on a huge variety of opportunity for our young people.
“Education is not just about exams but acquiring the confidence and skills that will have employers snapping them up. If we want a confident and growing city, we need to equip the next generation of Plymothians with the right aptitudes and attitudes.
“These projects have also created over 2,500 construction jobs - a huge boost for lots of families and to the local economy during difficult times.
“As we start the new term, this is also the time to pay tribute to the many staff from all the organisations involved – the university, Cornwall College, the Council, the academies and schools themselves and the contractors – for pulling out all the stops to get these projects on time and on budget. It’s a great achievement and testament to how co-operating can create something brilliant!”
The pioneering University Technical College is a state-of-the-art school specialising in marine engineering and advanced manufacturing in Devonport and is the South West’s first University Technical College.
It will offer up to 650 young people, aged 14 to 19-years-old; a dynamic and different learning experience in purpose-built facilities including ‘super’ workshops designed specifically to allow students to complete practical employer driven projects. The project was awarded just over £8 million in 2012 with the Council giving the project the former Parkside school site, worth just over £1 million.
The project has had a punishing programme of delivery but will open to students on 13 September. Plymouth University – whose roots can be traced back to the original 19th century Plymouth and Devonport technical college – is the main sponsor and the Council is co-sponsor.
Marine Academy Plymouth will open on 9 September. The project received just under £10 million funding through the Academies programme in 2011 and the then Partnerships for Schools – now the Education Funding Agency – asked the Council to deliver the project.
Old 1930s buildings have been demolished and new extensions built alongside extensive refurbishment of the more modern buildings. The main sponsors are Plymouth University with Cornwall College and Plymouth City Council is a co-sponsor.
All Saints Academy Plymouth received just over £11m through the Academies Programme and this involved the demolition of a 1960s secondary modern school building and 1970s extensions.
The project included a substantial new build extension to the existing 1980s buildings and extensive refurbishment. New recreation areas for students have been created as a result of demolition and landscaping.
The Church of England is the main sponsor with Marjons and Plymouth City Council co-sponsors.
Due to the Council’s reputation of delivering education facilities, the Education Funding Agency asked the Council to deliver all three contracts using the Academies Framework. BAM construction were the building contractors, the technical consultants and project managers have been Turner Townsend for MAP and ASAP and Mott McDonald for the UTC.
Primary school children going back to class at Riverside School in Barne Barton will also see some significant changes, thanks to a £2 million project to make more class room space for more children.
Part of the Council's Basic Need programme to expand primary schools, the project was delivered by Interserve as part of the Private Finance Initiative, although it was funded through the Council’s capital grant funding.
The school has gone from a two-form entry school for 420 children to a three form entry school for 640 children.
