Here you will find press releases about the development of The Wellington Academy and news from its Sponsor Wellington College.
ROYAL FAMILY BACKS WELLINGTON COLLEGE’S NEW STATE ACADEMY
Prince Andrew is to become President of The Wellington Academy, the new state school in Wiltshire sponsored by Wellington College, it was announced today.
As President, HRH The Duke of York will maintain a close interest in the Academy’s affairs and visit from time to time. The Duke’s appointment mirrors the role of HRH The Duke of Kent, who is President of Wellington College. The College was founded by Queen Victoria and has always maintained close links with the Royal Family, and has The Queen as its Visitor.
“Prince Andrew’s appointment is superb news, both for the school community and for the wider academies programme,” said Dr Anthony Seldon, Master of Wellington College. “Support for an academy by the Royal Family is a very significant moment in the history of this innovative model of schooling, which I see as one of the most significant educational ideas to emerge for several decades. Academies bring greater independence within the state system and help bridge the divide between independent and state schools. I believe that every independent school should either be founding an academy or taking part in a trust or federation”
The appointment of the Academy’s first Principal Andy Schofield has also been announced. He is currently Headteacher at Varndean School in Brighton and Hove.
The Wellington Academy is to be a new, mixed, non-denominational secondary school which will admit up to 1,150 students including the sixth form. The students will be drawn from all backgrounds, abilities and faiths and will specialise in foreign languages and business and enterprise. Up to 100 boarding places will also be available, many of which are expected to be taken by the children of forces families.
Funding for the Academy from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) of over £30m has been agreed within the last few days. This will go towards the creation of new school buildings, boarding houses and the proposed Combined Cadet Force (CCF) headquarters at the site in Ludgershall near Andover in Wiltshire. Wellington College is working closely with Wiltshire County Council to establish the Academy.
As sponsor, Wellington College will provide support to the new school in academic and administrative matters as well as in leadership and governance. The College wants the Academy to capture the educational vision and ethos of Wellington College in the richness and diversity of the opportunities it will offer all its pupils. Several key aspects of the new school are to be modelled on its sponsor, including a commitment to excellence, a house system, the eight aptitudes educational approach, well-being lessons and an emphasis on outdoor activities and service. Sixth-form provision is proposed to include the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Academy students will be offered the opportunity to engage with Wellington College activities and networks with particular emphasis on its international links.
Wellington College is one of the UK’s top co-educational independent schools and academically the fastest riser amongst the larger independent schools in the country*. The College was originally founded with a social mission, to educate the children of Army officers who died whilst serving their country. It now has a broad intake from the UK and overseas and only a minority of pupils are the sons and daughters of military officers.
Andy Schofield was appointed headteacher at Varndean in 1999, having previously been deputy head at the school for three years. Prior to that he worked in comprehensive schools in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, Devon, Essex and Sheffield. Andy chairs the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust Futures Vision group, who published the widely acclaimed ‘Essential questions for the future school’ in 2006. Andy is a member of the Trust's headteachers' steering group, is a regular speaker at conferences in this country and abroad, and has also been a frequent contributor to the Times Educational Supplement. This year, Andy has chaired the city's 14-19 partnership board, which has worked at coordinating courses across the city's secondary schools and colleges.
The Academy is replacing Castledown Foundation School which will change its status to an Academy from 2009. The new school will operate from existing school buildings in Ludgershall and open in a new building on the same site in the academic year beginning September 2010, growing from its existing 500 pupils to over 1,000. This move builds on the hard work of Castledown staff who have achieved significant academic improvement in recent years. The Academy will include existing staff from Castledown School and places will automatically be available for all current pupils.
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* Financial Times, September 2007
