News

Funding approved for new academy

Published 9 February 2011

The University of Brighton welcomed news that East Sussex County Council has approved extra capital funding that will ensure the construction of a twenty-first century building for a new academy in St Leonards.

Professor Julian Crampton, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, said the project had been thrown into doubt by the decision from Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, to only part-fund the building plans.

Professor Crampton said: “The significance of the county council’s decision to fill the funding gap must not be underestimated. Without this contribution, it would be difficult to see how the building works necessary to transform the learning experience for so many young people would have been achieved.

“The project is now back on track and back on schedule.”

The university is the lead sponsor for two new academies in Hastings and St Leonards. Its partner sponsors are the county council and BT.

The Department for Education last year agreed to provide the full £15.2m funding for a new building for The Hastings Academy but earlier this year the Secretary of State announced the department was only part-funding the new St Leonards Academy building, to the tune of £4.4m.

East Sussex County Council today (8 February) agreed to provide more than £11m in capital funds to ensure The St Leonards Academy new build proceeds.

Professor Crampton said: “We are extremely grateful to East Sussex County Council. This is a considerable investment and one that demonstrates the county council’s commitment to improving education provision in Hastings and St Leonards, and to regenerating the area.”

Professor Crampton said he was dismayed by the government’s funding shortfall: “An enormous amount of time and effort was invested by the sponsors in presenting the case and I speak on behalf of us all when I say that I am extremely disappointed and surprised by the Secretary of State’s decision.

“This process has been very frustrating for all concerned, including school governors, students, their families and school staff. Despite this frustration and uncertainty, all have continued working tirelessly to ensure that they continue to improve standards at The Grove and Filsham Valley.

“Fully funding The Hastings Academy but under-funding the St Leonards Academy was devisive and a decision that would have undermined the entire project. The academies were always about the two institutions operating in parallel and in unison, not just one, or separately

“In our view, the Department for Education failed to address issues surrounding the suitability of the Filsham Valley building, which will be home to the new St Leonards Academy, and the nature of the federation of the two academies.

“That The St Leonards Academy will now proceed as planned alongside The Hastings Academy project is testament to East Sussex County Council’s strategic vision to providing the best possible educational facilities, standards and opportunities for the children of Hastings and St Leonards, a vision shared by BT and the University of Brighton.

“We appreciate that academies are not just about facilities, but an extensively renovated building is an integral part of our vision for The St Leonards Academy. We want to ensure that our students have access to the very best modern learning spaces and our proposal recognised the condition of Filsham Valley School and falling student numbers, two factors that led to the need to merge The Grove and Filsham Valley schools onto one site and into one new building.”

Cllr Keith Glazier, the county council’s Lead Member for Children’s and Adult’s Services said councillors had agreed it was right and appropriate to agree the funding to ensure the St Leonards building programme went ahead.

He said: “Of course, schools are about much more than bricks and mortar but our vision for the new St Leonards Academy was always for a totally transformed opportunity for students. Key to twenty-first century learning is modern and suitably designed buildings. That means major investment in providing state-of-the-art facilities for St Leonards is a crucially important part of the overall project.”

Andrew Kouloumbrides, BT Director, Local Government and Devolved Government, commented: “BT is committed to developing talent, strengthening communities and improving lives, and I am pleased that BT is part of this programme to update and transform education in Hastings and St Leonards and to give young people the skills and qualifications they need to compete effectively for jobs and fulfil their potential. East Sussex County Council’s support will ensure real, significant benefits to the local community.”

Note to Editors: Both The St Leonards Academy and The Hastings Academy will open in existing school buildings in September 2011. The St Leonards Academy will see the merger of The Grove and Filsham Valley schools on the Filsham Valley site. The Hastings Academy will open at the Hillcrest School site and work is expected to begin on a new building there early next year. It is scheduled to open in the academic year starting September 2012.