Futures Vision Bus Tours 2007

Truly fascinating architecture and some really interesting implications for the school day!

Hi All

Firstly my thanks to SSAT and the tour sponsors for giving me this great opportunity to participate in the 2007 Northern Bus Tour. I would also like to thanks all the schools that hosted visits, they all provided a warm and friendly welcome. I would particularly like to thank all the students who showed me round and talked to me about their academy and their work - they were friendly, open, honest and a great credit to themselves - they were brilliant.

I was not sure what to expect from the tour and initially felt a little frustrated that it was taking me out of my own college for 3 days. Waiting in dining room of the David Young Academy I was almost tapping my feet impatiently thinking about the jobs I could be doing back at school. After all academies are all the same!

This feeling and view quickly disappeared however, once I had been shown round the academy and had been introduced to the academy’s vision for providing education for a disadvantaged community facing similar problems to my own college. I was impressed with the energy, commitment and desire to bring the best facilities and learning practices to some of society’s neediest and most vulnerable young people. At David Young I was impressed with the level of thought and planning which had gone into organising each day, week and year and having the strength of conviction to go against may years of established educational practice to maximise and reengage young people in their own learning.

Then on to Salford Academy different building conceived in different circumstances but boasting the same outstanding facilities and sharing the same desire to bring the best possible provision to the youngsters in the area. I was heartened to see the commitment to and development of vocational courses that mirrored the developments within my own college and that the provision of alternative progression routes could increase the engagement and achievement of students.

Grace Academy was another impressive and distinct building offering outstanding facilities to its students. The same commitment to raising; the opportunities open to all students and their personal aspirations was evident from everyone I spoke to. The desire to help students from a poor socio-economic background succeed was evident even in such a short visit.

Landau Forte College and Brooke Weston were both outstanding schools serving youngsters from a more affluent socio-economic background than the other academies visited. However the desire to provide the best facilities and provision so each student could follow the most appropriate pathway for them was still evident. There are many coasting schools that would benefit from a visit to these two schools. I was very impressed with the vertical tutoring support at Landau Forte and have similar plans to implement in my own college next year. I found it very helpful and reassuring to hear how successful this approach had been in supporting all students in the college over many years. Hearing what the students had to say about vertical tutoring and how the system supported and developed students with poor reading skills added to my conviction that this would be a significant improvement to the support of all students in my own college.

During my visit to Djanogly I started to experience some unexpected emotions. I felt envious of all the outstanding facilities I had seen and angry that my own college, that serves a very deprived community, did not have these facilities. I also felt a little ashamed that I had not considered academy status to secure these ’state of the art’ facilities, for my own college community. Whilst I was prepared for picking up examples of good practice and seeing impressive facilities and buildings I was not prepared for and had not considered that the tour would have such a powerful emotional impact upon me.

The same desire existed in Djanogly as in the other colleges and academies visited to provide excellent opportunities and facilities for its students. However I was extremely impressed with the development and use of ICT to support individual learning within and beyond the classroom. I definitely want some of this for my own college.

Thomas Deacon Academy was a very imposing and impressive building. It was like walking into the set of a science fiction movie. Conceived and developed in different circumstances to meet specific local needs again with outstanding facilities and the desire to enhance learning and improve achievement.

The Bus Tour took my preconceived ideas about academies all being the same, tore them apart and dumped them in the bin where they deserve to be. It also showed me that the academies want to offer their students exactly what I want my college to offer our own students - the best facilities, teaching & learning methods, and opportunities to develop and be successful in a safe, secure and innovative environment. As a consequence of my participation in the 2007 tour I will suggest that members of my college’s governing body and key staff visit one of these academies to look at the facilities and opportunities that can be provided by academies.

The 2007 Bus Tour has been a challenging and thought provoking experience. I would recommend this tour to anyone who has an interest in delivering the best possible education in whatever context they find themselves in. Once again I thank everyone involved in planning, organising and supporting the tour.

Don Burbeck

Deputy Headteacher
Walker Technology College
Middle Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 4BY

2200 Students - 6 wks old - already the transferred students appear confident and at home in a very different environment . Early days but another unfolding Academy story another different approach .
Semi collegiate - small vertical tutor groups - excellent extra curricular options, D of E, cadet force.
Finally it was interesting to see that the 6th form IB is being trialled.
Good final visit
Sir James Hill

Situated on the edge of Corby a 16 yr old CTC converting in 2008 along with another new Academy @ a nearby site -
BW buildings in v gd condition and the whole curriculum & time management lead to a positive learning environment -
The opportunities to specialise & support all students will be enhanced with the 2 Academies under one management .
Noted the 5 term year tho’ so far the 2nd Academy will remain 3 terms .
Student example alongside staff integration throughout leading to a very good feel.
Sir James Hill

Very impressed by the energy and creativity on display at this academy, and I’ve not seen ICT integration like this before - there’s a lot that can be learned from Djanogly

A warm thank you to the staff and students of Djanogly who have again demonstrated why they are two-time winners of the FVBT Awards! A most enjoyable meal last night too!

Having spent an hour in the Academy, I feel inspired to spread the word about how ICT is being used to such good effect. Students use laptops throughout the day, accessing a host of information from work set in lessons, to watching live lessons in the evening. So much is available for the individual student the mind bogles. One can see the enthusiam created in the students from the meaningful tasks set for them. Good learning was taking place in these pods.

Fascinating to see the widespread use of tablets. Refreshing to see an art lesson using no paint - just photoshop.

Tom Waterworth, headteacher at Lodge Park TC.

Excellent use of mind maps to link curriculum content

Another CTC conversion but this time on 2 distinct sites with potential for up to 1000 students each .
New 6th form inclusive facility adapted within previous ctc building - new theatre also coming on that site - leading to less student movement (tho’ staff do move!)
Excellent tour of new site by senior staff -
Rondeval idea allow d gtr insight into the flexible ICT led learning environment .
Chinese links progressing - lead practicioner in the midlands .
Original CTC Sponsor still very committed.
Sir James Hill