Milton Keynes Academy Set to Go Ahead

10.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th May 2007

The Milton Keynes School Organisation Committee announced today that it has agreed to the closure of Sir Frank Markham Community School at the end of August 2009 to be replaced by a brand new state-of-the-art Academy from 1 September 2009. This decision followed the backing for the Academy from the Council's Cabinet and Executive Scrutiny Committee in April. All local agreements are now in place for the project to go ahead to the implementation stage.

The Academy will be sponsored by the educational charity Edge and the new school will be created as a completely new building on part of the existing school's playing fields. The cost of the building will be fully funded by the Department for Education and Skills. Edge is already supporting the school and will invest a further £2 million to finance activities designed to tackle the impact of deprivation in the area.

The Academy will teach a balanced curriculum. Students will be able to study both academic and vocational courses in an environment where practical learning - learning by doing - underpins the curriculum. Edge believes that this, coupled with the specialism of business and enterprise, is the right way to prepare young people for successful careers and to make sure they will always be in demand by employers. The Academy will work with Milton Keynes College, other secondary and primary schools, universities and local businesses to give students a real idea of the careers on offer and the learning, skills and attitudes they will need to succeed.

The new school will be for young people living in the existing Sir Frank Markham catchment area and all at the school at the time of change will automatically transfer to the Academy. The admissions policy has been written by the Council and is in line with that for other secondary schools in Milton Keynes. The Academy will build on the current and improving strengths of the school by providing the staff with the best resources available to maximise the educational progress of each young person. Students and staff will no longer have to work in accommodation that is "not fit for purpose".

The Council has been planning the Academy with Edge for over 18 months. This has included extensive consultations and the views of staff, governors, students, parents, the local community and the business community have all been taken on board.

An exciting education vision has been drawn up and steps have been taken to ensure that the design of the new school will allow that vision to be realised. There will be further discussions with key stakeholders to shape the final detail over the transition period to an Academy. The transition period will be marked by continued high levels of support to the school to enable it to make ongoing improvements in the run up to it becoming an Academy.

The Academy proposal is supported by Sir Frank Markham School, its governors and its Student Council. It also has the backing of the headteachers of the primary schools in the area and of Milton Keynes College. The local business community views the initiative very positively. The local Parish Councils see the project as a catalyst for regeneration in the area.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Sandra Clark, Milton Keynes Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "This is an exciting and much-needed development. It will transform the life chances of thousands of young people and allow a committed new partner, Edge, to work with the local authority on its improvement agenda.

"The Academy will have a magnificent new school building equipped with the best resources available and provide a style of learning to motivate the school's students. It will be an extended school that will benefit the whole community as part of wider regeneration in the area. The Academy will quickly become the school of automatic choice of parents for their children."

John Kerr, Edge's development director, said: "This is great news for the young people in the new Academy's catchment area. We know what employers want from young people and we will ensure that ours leave school not only with the right qualifications but also with a positive idea of the workplace and the skills they will need to ensure great career and business success."

An advertisement for the principal of the Academy will appear in the national educational press on 18 May, with interviews taking place in June.

The Council has started on the process of selecting a contractor to build the new Academy.