News and events

Green light for Hastings academies

Published 19 March 2010

Two multi-million pound academy schools will be created in Hastings after the proposals were given the final go-ahead.

The government's signing of the funding agreement for the new academies is a significant and major milestone in the project and signals the green light for more than £40m worth of investment in the two new 21st century schools.

The news has been welcomed by the sponsors – the University of Brighton, East Sussex County Council and BT – who have set up the trust that will manage the new academies.

They believe the new academies, which will replace Hillcrest, Filsham Valley and the Grove secondary schools, will not only improve educational opportunities for young people in the town but also play a role in the wider regeneration of the area.

Students in Hastings

Professor Julian Crampton, the university's Vice-Chancellor, said: "I am delighted this has been given the final go-ahead which will allow us to realise our ambitious plans."

"We are committed to leading the academies programme and are looking forward to sharing our expertise. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the staff, students, head teachers and the governors from the predecessor schools."

Cllr Keith Glazier, East Sussex County Council's Lead Member for Children and Families, said: "This is a significant day for Hastings. We have already seen huge improvement through the work of the federation under Sir Dexter's leadership. We are now able to take this forward with the academies, together with our partners at the University and BT, who will bring significant extra benefits and strengths to the schools."

Cllr Glazier added that a total in excess of £40m would be invested in the two new academies, including more than £7m from the County Council. "We are committed to raising standards and aspirations in Hastings and broadening the educational opportunities young people have. A lot of hard work and effort has gone into these proposals and there's a lot more hard work ahead of us. But the government's decision and the funding agreement means we now know these academies will happen and we can get on and do it."

Andrew Kouloumbrides is BT's Hastings Academies director. He said: "This is the start of an exciting educational journey for Hastings. BT believes that the introduction of the academies in the town will help stimulate not only the young people who will learn there, but the whole community too."

"It is a fantastic opportunity to offer a new way of working and BT is committed as a sponsor to ensuring communications are at the heart of this project and believe the academies will offer young people in Hastings a real opportunity to harness their true potential and prepare for their working lives."

Sponsors would also like to hear from the local community about potential names for the two academies. If you would like to vote there are three ways that you can get involved:

email: info@hastingsacademies.org
phone: 0330 1231023
post: Hastings Academies FREEPOST CB41, Demeter House, Station Road, Cambridge CB1 2YA.

All names collected by 12 April 2010 will be put to the sponsors who will choose three names for each Academy which will then go to the predecessor schools for them to choose the final names for their respective academy.

Background information

The sponsors: University of Brighton, East Sussex County Council and BT, are proposing two new academy schools for Hastings to replace Filsham Valley, The Grove and Hillcrest Schools. On the eastern side of the town the proposal is for a brand new academy on the Hillcrest School site which will accommodate 900 pupils aged 11-16 and deliver the core subjects of the national curriculum. The new academy would open in 2011 and building work on the new buildings has a target completion date of 2012. Meanwhile, on the western side of the town a new academy will provide for 1,500 pupils aged 11-16 and will replace The Grove and Filsham Valley Schools. Again, the new academy will open in 2011 with a targeted completion date for the building work of 2012.

Widespread consultation with the local community was carried out towards the end of last year.

Both of the new academies will be state-funded, non-selective schools and each will be fully inclusive with improved special educational needs facilities incorporated into each. Each of the new academies will be developed to minimise disruption to pupils; the approach to ensuring pupils' learning does not suffer during the building process will be developed during the implementation stage.

Councillors agreed in July 2008 to the principle of proceeding with the academy proposals for Hastings. Under the plans East Sussex County Council would be one of the co-sponsors of the academies along with BT. The lead sponsor would be the University of Brighton.

The government's agreement of funding means the plans can now go ahead. The project will now move into the implementation phase.