02/07/08 Over £54 Million Investment - Academies will go ahead


A major milestone has been reached in the development of the proposed Academies located at Boundstone Community College in Lancing and Littlehampton Community School, which will see a combined capital investment of over £54 million.

Following formal consultation, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Pat Arculus, has agreed that the two schools should close in August 2009 to allow for the creation of the proposed new Academy schools in September 2009.

This means the two Academies will go ahead providing the current feasibility work is concluded successfully and each scheme receives approval from the Government. This is expected in the near future.

In the meantime the two sponsors behind the proposals - West Sussex County Council and Woodard Schools – have formally set out how they intend to work together with the signing of a ‘Partnership Agreement’.

The agreement is a strong sign that the project to form the two brand new state-of-the-art Academies is moving forward.

Pat Arculus said: “This is a significant moment and a chance for us to celebrate the progress made so far and our commitment to working closely with Woodard Schools.

“The Academies will not only provide a first-class education for many generations to come, but will also make a significant contribution to their local communities too.”

Peter Rawlinson, Academies Development Director for Woodard Schools, added: “The main objectives of providing child centred education, a nurturing environment and an academy for the community have been shared by both Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council as we have worked through the feasibility process.

“We are now looking forward to continuing our relationship with West Sussex County Council and, pending the decision from the Government, in making our objectives reality.”

The Partnership Agreement is a way for the County Council and Woodard Schools to pledge their shared commitment on matters such as the Academies’ future collaborative work with other agencies like the Connexions Service and Further Education Colleges. It also provides an agreed way of working to support vulnerable children and their families.

It is proposed to open the new Academies in the schools’ existing buildings in September 2009.

The new buildings are expected to be ready by autumn 2011. The proposed Littlehampton Academy will have £30 million invested in its new buildings. The buildings for the proposed Boundstone Academy will attract a £24.6 million investment.

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