Eastbourne Technology College

Welcome to ETC / Academy Information Page

This page is intended to provide information for parents and residents on the Academy proposal for ETC.

Letter to Parents 14th June 2010

Dear Parents

I am writing to you to inform you of the progress towards The Eastbourne Academy so far.

As you will already know, the academy was approved by the last Secretary of State in the Spring and will open in the place of Eastbourne Technology College on 1^st September 2010. All students who would have been members of ETC will automatically transfer across.

The Academy is an opportunity to take forward the best of ETC, but then make it better. In September 2013 we expect to move into a brand new set of buildings, however long before that you should see improvements in your children’s education.

You may have already read the Academy Vision in the Education Brief that is now a public document, but in case you have not, I include some details below of things that will be different for the students in September.

Improving the Environment

The Government has given us a special grant that will be spent in the next few months on improving the current buildings. There will be redecoration, new signs and displays, new classrooms in some parts of the buildings and a “deep clean” of a lot of the facilities. Some of this work has already begun.

Improved Resources and Curriculum

In September, students will move into three new Learning Communities which will replace the four existing Communities. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) they will have more of their lessons within their Communities, not mixed across the school as they do now. In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) they will still follow the choice of examination courses that we currently have.

The Academy will specialise in Science and Digital Technologies to reflect the future skills and knowledge that students will need in the 21^st Century. There will also be more lessons to improve students’ basic skills and the skills they need for a modern workplace.

The School Day has been discussed at length and it has been decided that it will follow the plan put out to parents earlier in the year that you can see on our website. Please note that although lessons run at different times from now, there is a breakfast club before school and homework club after school so that we can supervise students from 8 am until 3.50 pm. Monday morning period 1 is a meeting slot for staff, but there will still be a breakfast club for students on that day.

Learning Communities

There will be three smaller schools operating within the overall Academy. Each school forms a new Learning Community instead of the four Communities that we have now. All students will be placed into a Mentor Group in these new Communities for September. Students will be told which Mentor Group they are in on Friday 18^th June. Mentor groups will still be vertical (each one will have students from every year group) and there will be a Community Manager. The names and colours of these Communities are shown in the chart below:

The Centre will run as it does now but will provide additional support for students who arrive during the school year and for students to work on their Literacy and Numeracy. In addition to the current Centre staff, Mrs Andi Edwards will work as a Community Manager to support these students.

Improving Behaviour, Attitudes and the Image of the Academy

In the new Academy, we will need a stricter focus on learning and we will expect the highest standards of attitude and behaviour from our students. We will expect every student to show respect, to value learning and to engage in the lessons. There will be a new school badge and a new school tie to go with the new name.

The Academy will pay for current ETC students to change their uniform, so this will mean that the current Years 7, 8 and 9 will be given new ties and a badge to go on their blazers and Year 10 will be given a tie and a blazer as they are not expected to pay for a new uniform for one year only. I will explain the detail of this to students in assemblies next week.

If you need any clarification please e mail me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and I will try to answer any questions you have.

Thank you

Keith Pailthorpe

Principal Designate

The Eastbourne Academy

Proposal for a new school day

A note on the timetable above:
The Academy’s breakfast club and after school activities are optional. On Mondays year 7-9 students will be in for the 9.30 lesson in the morning and will finish at 3.50pm. On Tuesdays to Fridays, Year 7-9 students have to be in school from 8.30 until 2.50 and Year 10 students have to be in school from 9.30 until 3.50. If parents want students to attend breakfast clubs or after school activities  then that is an option for the parent. There will be space for students to work in a supervised environment during breakfast club (and in the Resource Centre) before school.

PUBLIC MEETING
about the proposed Academy plan
on Tuesday 1st December at ETC from 6.30 to 8pm
This is for any parents, students or friends who would like to attend. This will be a chance to ask
important questions and hear from the Academy Sponsors.

You can find out about Academies from the Government Website (DCSF) here

EastbourneAcademy.org website with information and documents from the sponsors

East Sussex County Council website with information on the Academy proposals



Key dates for the timetable:

* Public consultation on the Academy proposal - 9 November to 21 December 2009
* ESCC Lead Members consider the consultation responses - January 2010
* If ESCC Lead Members approve the proposal, Statutory Notice for ETC closure to make way for an Academy - Jan / Feb 2010
* Target for submission of Academy documentation to Secretary of State for final decision - mid- March 2010.
* Academy opening date - Sept 2010
* Target date for new Academy buildings - September 2013

Documents:

Letter to ETC and Year 6 parents - 16th September 2009

Proposed Eastbourne Academy letter for parents on Open Evening - 6th October 2009

Proposed Eastbourne Academy letter for parents - 20th October 2009

ETC 22nd October 2009