THE SCHOOL’S VIEW
We talk to a deputy head
about how the 14 to 19
reform and curriculum
changes are set to impact
The
in his school
I
t might seem like a bit of a soft option,
but the courses in surf science at Treviglas
Community School in Newquay, Cornwall,
challenge
are anything but. The fact that students spend
some of their time learning the techniques of
riding the waves might raise a few eyebrows,
but they also take on the rigours of sports
sciences and travel and tourism in a final
qualification that is worth the equivalent of
ahead
two A levels. Successful students who have
completed the university-accredited modules
will gain guaranteed access to the surf science
Degree at Plymouth University.
The course is available at Treviglas’s Surf
Academy, which was created in response to 14
to 19 reforms, and now attracts interest from
all over the country.
Malcolm Broad, the school’s deputy head,
explained: “The changes to 14 to 19 education
has given schools like ours huge opportunities
to re-structure our teaching to offer pupils the
skills they need to compete in the workplace,
and to clear their way into further and higher
education.
“It is a sad fact of life in Cornwall that
many young people leave the region once they
have finished school, and never return. We
need to make them aware of what is on offer
here and encourage them to stay. They already
know that they live in a wonderful place,
but when work options are limited it is not
surprising that so many consider leaving.”
The key to these changes at Treviglas has
been the creation of a number of “academies”
within the school, targeting pupils who
have particular strengths and interests and
motivating those who are at risk of slipping
through the net.
“We have been working collaboratively school to develop courses in partnership with, “We have given teachers time to work
with local employers and other schools, and for example, professional caterers, beauty on schemes of learning in preparation for
the best example of this is the Surf Academy, salons, and adventure centres in partnership changes, and all subject leaders have been on
which we set up in 2003 to reflect and tie- with Cornwall College. examination board training.
in with the lifestyle of the area,” Mr Broad And it has already reaped results in terms “By re-structuring our curriculum we have
added. “We did this in the context of offering of GCSE successes. Almost 40 per cent of developed expertise in the best ways of doing
a clear pathway to young people into further the first cohort of students who left in 2007 this, and we already know more or less what
education who might not have considered it, achieved five or more A* to C grades at our timetables will look like when Diplomas
and who might have left school and never GCSE against a projected five per cent prior are introduced.”
returned to any form of education or training.” to the academy being established. He predicts that challenges may occur,
At key stage 4, Treviglas has also created Treviglas also has a Technical Academy for however, in getting smaller businesses
an Enterprise Academy, to teach personal and students with an aptitude in ICT, which offers involved. More than 95 per cent of local
thinking skills, alongside functional skills, industry-recognised qualifications offered by businesses in Newquay are small and medium-
numeracy and ICT competence. CISCO, while its Business Academy offers sized employers.
“This is aimed at 25 per cent or so of modules towards the foundation degree at “Developing better relationships with these
students at key stage 4 who are selected for Plymouth University. companies, and finding out what they can
their abilities in a practical and vocational Meanwhile, the Science Academy offers offer us, and what we can offer them, will be
context,” Mr Broad continued. science qualifications in conjunction with the a great step forward. We have been discussing
“For three days a week they do a core university and Cornwall College. ways of getting more businesses on board
curriculum of maths, English, science, The result of this re-structuring in the and having breakfast meetings with local
ICT, PE and religious education, which are curriculum delivery at the school means that employers, which is a concept that most of our
compacted into three days to allow us to run introducing Diplomas in 2009 will be easier, staff have not come across before,” Mr Broad
vocational courses on the other two days. Mr Broad predicted. added.
This academy is the model for our future “The changes associated with delivering “So we have some exciting times ahead, and
Diploma development, as we already have the Diplomas will not be a huge challenge for us we look forward to developing more of these
collaborations in place to make that work.” because we are already looking at innovative partnerships and relationships in the coming
The Enterprise Academy has enabled the ways of doing these things,” he said. years.”
SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION
5
IN QUALIFICATIONS
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