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Darwen Academy's state of the art plans
DARWEN Academy will be doing away with traditional school uniforms, school bells and timetables when it opens in September.
The school, which will cater for 1,600 students, will also have a state of the art ICT infrastructure, a 240-seater central dining area, a new sports hall, a multi-use games area, an aerobics studio and gym and a vocational skills centre.
Details were revealed after Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families (DCSF), along with the Academy Trust and Blackburn with Darwen Council, reached a funding agreement for the £45million school.
The Academy will open its doors in September in its predecessor school, Darwen Moorland.
Work on the new town centre site, which will include the revolutionary changes, is due to start in June after a deal was finally done to ensure Redearth residents moved off the site.
It is planned that in early 2010 students will start transferring to the "iconic landmark" building.
The Academy is funded directly by the DCSF, with a £2million contribution from the foundation of the sponsor Rod Aldridge.
The Academy is one of only a few schools in the UK to have the main specialism of Entrepreneurship.
Through this specialism, a major aim of the academy will be to significantly contribute to the social, environmental and economic regeneration of the town.
Principal, Brendan Loughran said: "The spirit of entrepreneurship will underpin all aspects of Academy life.
"We will encourage students, staff and other stakeholders to aim high, to take risks and to make things happen.
"We are certainly not afraid to do things differently.
"We are doing away with school bells and traditional timetable structures and our school day will be made up of two main learning sessions with staggered breaks."
Graham Burgess, chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, added: "I am delighted the uncertainty is now over. We look forward to another high quality school in our borough which will provide a vital building block for the regeneration of Darwen and equip our young people with the skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century."
3:54pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: school inspector, home on 4:23pm Thu 8 May 08
Great the kids will be able to turn up when they want.
Dont think that will be very often.
Great the kids will be able to turn up when they want.
Dont think that will be very often.
Posted by: Jay, Please stop asking cos I ain't telling! on 4:46pm Thu 8 May 08
Already on flexi time aren't they? Or is it 'continental school days ?'.
Used to finish every day around 3.30 once, depending where you were in the country but that was general finishing time and earlier for primary school children.
Now they come out different times each day. Is there a 'tier' system in operation, eg certain years come out earlier than others? Either way, they cause a nuisance of themselves whichever year they are ...
God forbid you get in the way of their parents picking their little 'angels' up from school.
LET reported a while ago a case in Langho where a police officer was deluged in spital by parents who refused to remove their cars from the public highway in Langho primary school. Nice, eh? Wanna know where kids learn vulgar behaviour?
On the subject of the academy itself, which has generated enough controversy throug the years ...
It's interesting to note that there are an increasing number of parents throughout the country *some live in far better, much wealthier areas than Darwen; Darwen and 'affluent' don't go together, cos it's not* and you'd imagine were intellectually intelligent enough to realize when something isn't right with their child's education are removing their children from these academies.
Some out there might want to ask themselves why these parents are now doing this?
All that glitters is not gold. Some are still getting fooled by seeing the words 'academy' and millions of pounds on sports facilities. There is far more to a child's education than these trappings.
As I said, parents in some parts of the country, some living in rural or well to do areas of London or the home counties, are removing or trying to get their children into non-academy schooling.
Doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize a few things about that? Does it.
But, there again, parents often get so selfish they cannot see the wood for the trees when choosing what they consider is the best school for their children. Hence why so many are naively being led into this academy thing.
Burnley has one. Lots of problems. Too big, cannot cope. Problems arise. Who is the person suffering in the end - your children!
Already on flexi time aren't they? Or is it 'continental school days ?'.
Used to finish every day around 3.30 once, depending where you were in the country but that was general finishing time and earlier for primary school children.
Now they come out different times each day. Is there a 'tier' system in operation, eg certain years come out earlier than others? Either way, they cause a nuisance of themselves whichever year they are ...
God forbid you get in the way of their parents picking their little 'angels' up from school.
LET reported a while ago a case in Langho where a police officer was deluged in spital by parents who refused to remove their cars from the public highway in Langho primary school. Nice, eh? Wanna know where kids learn vulgar behaviour?
On the subject of the academy itself, which has generated enough controversy throug the years ...
It's interesting to note that there are an increasing number of parents throughout the country *some live in far better, much wealthier areas than Darwen; Darwen and 'affluent' don't go together, cos it's not* and you'd imagine were intellectually intelligent enough to realize when something isn't right with their child's education are removing their children from these academies.
Some out there might want to ask themselves why these parents are now doing this?
All that glitters is not gold. Some are still getting fooled by seeing the words 'academy' and millions of pounds on sports facilities. There is far more to a child's education than these trappings.
As I said, parents in some parts of the country, some living in rural or well to do areas of London or the home counties, are removing or trying to get their children into non-academy schooling.
Doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize a few things about that? Does it.
But, there again, parents often get so selfish they cannot see the wood for the trees when choosing what they consider is the best school for their children. Hence why so many are naively being led into this academy thing.
Burnley has one. Lots of problems. Too big, cannot cope. Problems arise. Who is the person suffering in the end - your children!
Posted by: Bill, Burnley on 5:11pm Thu 8 May 08
What a dreadful idea. Children need a sense of routine and a clear sense of boundaries. This flies in the face of reason; have we all caught the dreadful New Labour disease of change for change's sake'? Let's just remember what past trendy educational tinkering has brought us: comprehensive schools; the GCSE; pupils on the interview panel for new teaching posts. No wonder that in the richest parts of Britain, a quarter of parents vote with their feet, and opt out of state schools. There's no such trendy idiocy in the independent sector, and if Darwen Academy wants to be as good as the independent sector, perhaps it will take note.
What a dreadful idea. Children need a sense of routine and a clear sense of boundaries. This flies in the face of reason; have we all caught the dreadful New Labour disease of change for change's sake'? Let's just remember what past trendy educational tinkering has brought us: comprehensive schools; the GCSE; pupils on the interview panel for new teaching posts. No wonder that in the richest parts of Britain, a quarter of parents vote with their feet, and opt out of state schools. There's no such trendy idiocy in the independent sector, and if Darwen Academy wants to be as good as the independent sector, perhaps it will take note.
Posted by: JH, Darwen on 7:12pm Thu 8 May 08
I would not get rid of the uniform altogother just modernise it, let the students design their own uniform, get them invovled from the beginning.
I would not get rid of the uniform altogother just modernise it, let the students design their own uniform, get them invovled from the beginning.
Posted by: MERSEY, DARWEN on 9:27pm Thu 8 May 08
WELL WHAT CAN I SAY??? THERE WAS ME THINKING WHEN MY KIDS GO TO HIGH SCHOOL THEY'RE FEEL THEY HAD TO KNUCKLE DOWN AND WORK HARD,from sept 2009 my daughter will be doing god knows what god knows where GOOD LUCK TO PARENTS WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO CALLED METHOD SCHOOL LIFE BEFORE ME
WELL WHAT CAN I SAY??? THERE WAS ME THINKING WHEN MY KIDS GO TO HIGH SCHOOL THEY'RE FEEL THEY HAD TO KNUCKLE DOWN AND WORK HARD,from sept 2009 my daughter will be doing god knows what god knows where GOOD LUCK TO PARENTS WHO HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO CALLED METHOD SCHOOL LIFE BEFORE ME
Posted by: Deano, Darwen on 12:03am Fri 9 May 08
What confuses me is, if the academy opens its doors in the building of its predecessor this September, what was the point in demolishing all the houses in the redearth triangle. To me if the current site is suitable for the next two years why is it not suitable after that?
What confuses me is, if the academy opens its doors in the building of its predecessor this September, what was the point in demolishing all the houses in the redearth triangle. To me if the current site is suitable for the next two years why is it not suitable after that?
Posted by: Mike, Blackpool on 12:08am Fri 9 May 08
Jay - its 'All that GLISTERS is not gold.'
Rather ironically shows up your education !
Jay - its 'All that GLISTERS is not gold.'
Rather ironically shows up your education !
Posted by: Apolitical, Darwen on 12:18am Fri 9 May 08
[bold]Pride in one’s school uniform is fundamental to top class education[/bold] . It is fundamental to the good behaviour and discipline, in the pupil not wanting to let down his/her school, when travelling to and from. I have seen headmasters abolish uniforms, heaven knows why, possibly because they have no faith in the children under their charge. Almost always on the appointment of a new head uniforms are re-introduced – heed the warning Brendan Loughran.
A total capacity of 1600 academy places, when realistically less than 1000 are needed. Why only have dining facilities for 240. Overall staff will be about 150 and yet there will be less than 100 parking spaces.
State of the art building? What a misrepresentation, within a decade the town populace will be calling for it to be pulled down – it is shaped like a piece of cheese and is a characterless glass structure.
Why on earth is there to be an Entrepreneurial specialism in Darwen Academy defeats all logic, but this is why Rod Aldridge wanted the town centre site, in order that pupils could gain experience from local businesses – but the question is ‘what businesses’? And why were 150 families evicted from their homes at the whim of the former Capita Chief Executive. The council are now sceptical at the wisdom of outsourcing various administrative tasks to Capita to the financial detriment of the local tax payer. My grandchildren would have been educated in Blackburn with Darwen but I am not optimistic as the education of our children will be in the hands of an individual who was accused of providing educational funding for his own aggrandizement.
[bold]Where are the playing fields, where is the fresh air for the health of our children? [/bold]
Pride in one’s school uniform is fundamental to top class education . It is fundamental to the good behaviour and discipline, in the pupil not wanting to let down his/her school, when travelling to and from. I have seen headmasters abolish uniforms, heaven knows why, possibly because they have no faith in the children under their charge. Almost always on the appointment of a new head uniforms are re-introduced – heed the warning Brendan Loughran.
A total capacity of 1600 academy places, when realistically less than 1000 are needed. Why only have dining facilities for 240. Overall staff will be about 150 and yet there will be less than 100 parking spaces.
State of the art building? What a misrepresentation, within a decade the town populace will be calling for it to be pulled down – it is shaped like a piece of cheese and is a characterless glass structure.
Why on earth is there to be an Entrepreneurial specialism in Darwen Academy defeats all logic, but this is why Rod Aldridge wanted the town centre site, in order that pupils could gain experience from local businesses – but the question is ‘what businesses’? And why were 150 families evicted from their homes at the whim of the former Capita Chief Executive. The council are now sceptical at the wisdom of outsourcing various administrative tasks to Capita to the financial detriment of the local tax payer. My grandchildren would have been educated in Blackburn with Darwen but I am not optimistic as the education of our children will be in the hands of an individual who was accused of providing educational funding for his own aggrandizement.
Where are the playing fields, where is the fresh air for the health of our children? Posted by: Oddo, Canada on 4:35am Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]Mike[/bold] wrote:
Jay - its \\\'All that GLISTERS is not gold.\\\' Rather ironically shows up your education ![/quote] Mike: I always knew it
as all that GLISTENS is not gold.
What's glisters anyway? Where did they teach you that?
Mike wrote:
Jay - its 'All that GLISTERS is not gold.' Rather ironically shows up your education !
Mike: I always knew it
as all that GLISTENS is not gold.
What's glisters anyway? Where did they teach you that?
Posted by: dave, Darwen on 8:39am Fri 9 May 08
It doesn't say doing away with uniforms it say doing away with "traditional" uniforms. It doesn't say start and finish times will be flexible, it says break times will be staggered and the "traditional" timetable will go.
Stop reading things into the story that aren't there and give them a chance to prove themselves, they can't do much worse than Moorland being in special measures can they?
It doesn't say doing away with uniforms it say doing away with "traditional" uniforms. It doesn't say start and finish times will be flexible, it says break times will be staggered and the "traditional" timetable will go.
Stop reading things into the story that aren't there and give them a chance to prove themselves, they can't do much worse than Moorland being in special measures can they?
Posted by: KARL, melbourne on 11:48am Fri 9 May 08
STOP WHINGEING ,A SCHOOL IS A SCHOOL , IF A KID WANTS TO LEARN THEY WILL . I WENT TO MOORLAND AND I AM NOW ONE OF THE WORLDS GREATEST ROCKET SCIENTISTS , SO ANYTHINGS POSSIBLE .
STOP WHINGEING ,A SCHOOL IS A SCHOOL , IF A KID WANTS TO LEARN THEY WILL . I WENT TO MOORLAND AND I AM NOW ONE OF THE WORLDS GREATEST ROCKET SCIENTISTS , SO ANYTHINGS POSSIBLE .
Posted by: GP, Darwen on 12:00pm Fri 9 May 08
Typical telegraph reporting trying to stir up controversy where there is non. The first sentance in this report is misleading and infamitory.
There *is* going to be a unifom - just not a traditional one, there *is* going to be a timetable - just not a traditional one and Darwen Moorland has never had school bells anyway.
Just wish more people who used this site could read properly and not rely on inaccurate introducatry paragraphs to make up their mind.
Nice to see Apolitical being his cheery glass half full self ;)
Typical telegraph reporting trying to stir up controversy where there is non. The first sentance in this report is misleading and infamitory.
There *is* going to be a unifom - just not a traditional one, there *is* going to be a timetable - just not a traditional one and Darwen Moorland has never had school bells anyway.
Just wish more people who used this site could read properly and not rely on inaccurate introducatry paragraphs to make up their mind.
Nice to see Apolitical being his cheery glass half full self ;)
Posted by: Who Cares, Be Honest on 1:17pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote][bold]GP[/bold] wrote:
Typical telegraph reporting trying to stir up controversy where there is non. The first sentance in this report is misleading and infamitory. There *is* going to be a unifom - just not a traditional one, there *is* going to be a timetable - just not a traditional one and Darwen Moorland has never had school bells anyway. Just wish more people who used this site could read properly and not rely on inaccurate introducatry paragraphs to make up their mind. Nice to see Apolitical being his cheery glass half full self ;)[/quote] Moorland had school bells when I attended!!!! I can see this academy being moaned about for years to come - Darwen, the place where everyone complains about everything!!
GP wrote:
Typical telegraph reporting trying to stir up controversy where there is non. The first sentance in this report is misleading and infamitory. There *is* going to be a unifom - just not a traditional one, there *is* going to be a timetable - just not a traditional one and Darwen Moorland has never had school bells anyway. Just wish more people who used this site could read properly and not rely on inaccurate introducatry paragraphs to make up their mind. Nice to see Apolitical being his cheery glass half full self ;)
Moorland had school bells when I attended!!!! I can see this academy being moaned about for years to come - Darwen, the place where everyone complains about everything!!
Posted by: Hamish Mc, Darwen. on on 2:06pm Fri 9 May 08
I think that this "State of the Art" Academy will not a good idea if their is no Traditional uniform and Timetables etc as well as School bells and I hope their will be discipline as well as some schools do not have any discipline at all and to me that is were some pupils go wrong and their seems that discipline is lacking now a days so it should be brought back ASAP. Lets hope they will listen and do what pepole want not what others think is right.
I think that this "State of the Art" Academy will not a good idea if their is no Traditional uniform and Timetables etc as well as School bells and I hope their will be discipline as well as some schools do not have any discipline at all and to me that is were some pupils go wrong and their seems that discipline is lacking now a days so it should be brought back ASAP. Lets hope they will listen and do what pepole want not what others think is right.
Posted by: Jamie, Blackburn on 5:18pm Fri 9 May 08
So nice to see that the authorities are not giving in to certain backward thinking Darwen folk who want to keep the town in the 20th century.
The academy is a fantastic prospect and the people of Darwen should embrace it. Millions of pounds are being invested for the education of your children, so they will have a chance to get decent GCSE grades and go to university.
Unfortunately, there are still people who would prefer their children to go to Moorland or Darwen Vale. That really says a lot about Darwen.
So nice to see that the authorities are not giving in to certain backward thinking Darwen folk who want to keep the town in the 20th century.
The academy is a fantastic prospect and the people of Darwen should embrace it. Millions of pounds are being invested for the education of your children, so they will have a chance to get decent GCSE grades and go to university.
Unfortunately, there are still people who would prefer their children to go to Moorland or Darwen Vale. That really says a lot about Darwen.
Posted by: adue, darwen on 7:24pm Fri 9 May 08
a academy built in 3 months time well that would be a miracle.
they not even knocked down all the houses yet
cant wait to see this is it another fine mess you've got us into blackburn with darwen and crapita (capita sorry)
a academy built in 3 months time well that would be a miracle.
they not even knocked down all the houses yet
cant wait to see this is it another fine mess you've got us into blackburn with darwen and crapita (capita sorry)
Posted by: Pete, Darwen on 12:38am Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]GP[/bold] wrote:
Typical telegraph reporting trying to stir up controversy where there is non. The first sentance in this report is misleading and infamitory. There *is* going to be a unifom - just not a traditional one, there *is* going to be a timetable - just not a traditional one and Darwen Moorland has never had school bells anyway. Just wish more people who used this site could read properly and not rely on inaccurate introducatry paragraphs to make up their mind. Nice to see Apolitical being his cheery glass half full self ;)[/quote] read? what about spelling? that is one of the worst, mis-spelt posts i've seen in a long time.
stones. glass. house.
GP wrote:
Typical telegraph reporting trying to stir up controversy where there is non. The first sentance in this report is misleading and infamitory. There *is* going to be a unifom - just not a traditional one, there *is* going to be a timetable - just not a traditional one and Darwen Moorland has never had school bells anyway. Just wish more people who used this site could read properly and not rely on inaccurate introducatry paragraphs to make up their mind. Nice to see Apolitical being his cheery glass half full self ;)
read? what about spelling? that is one of the worst, mis-spelt posts i've seen in a long time.
stones. glass. house.
Posted by: born and bread, darrener on 9:04am Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]Deano[/bold] wrote:
What confuses me is, if the academy opens its doors in the building of its predecessor this September, what was the point in demolishing all the houses in the redearth triangle. To me if the current site is suitable for the next two years why is it not suitable after that? [/quote] WELL SAID DEANO THATS WHY ALL THE PEOPLE WAS FIGHTING FOR THERE HOMES. THEY CLOSE LOWER MOORLAND THAT WAS ON KNOTT ST TO GET THE KID OUT OF THE TOWN CENTER. AND AND THEN 15 YEARS ON THE KICK PEOPLE OUT OF THEY HOME TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN THE TOWN CENTER. AND FOR ALL THESE THAT ARE MOANING ABOUT HOW THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE RUN ARE ALL TWOFACE C--TS! AND ALL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT SO IT CAN BE BUILT, AND NOW YOU ARE ALL MOANING ABOUT IT YOU WHAT TO MAKE YOUR MIND UP IF YOU WHAT THE SCHOOL THERE ARE NOT
Deano wrote:
What confuses me is, if the academy opens its doors in the building of its predecessor this September, what was the point in demolishing all the houses in the redearth triangle. To me if the current site is suitable for the next two years why is it not suitable after that?
WELL SAID DEANO THATS WHY ALL THE PEOPLE WAS FIGHTING FOR THERE HOMES. THEY CLOSE LOWER MOORLAND THAT WAS ON KNOTT ST TO GET THE KID OUT OF THE TOWN CENTER. AND AND THEN 15 YEARS ON THE KICK PEOPLE OUT OF THEY HOME TO BUILD A SCHOOL IN THE TOWN CENTER. AND FOR ALL THESE THAT ARE MOANING ABOUT HOW THE SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE RUN ARE ALL TWOFACE C--TS! AND ALL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT SO IT CAN BE BUILT, AND NOW YOU ARE ALL MOANING ABOUT IT YOU WHAT TO MAKE YOUR MIND UP IF YOU WHAT THE SCHOOL THERE ARE NOT
Posted by: i cant read on 4:53pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]adue[/bold] wrote:
a academy built in 3 months time well that would be a miracle.
they not even knocked down all the houses yet
cant wait to see this is it another fine mess you've got us into blackburn with darwen and crapita (capita sorry) [/quote] i think if you read the story correctly it says the academy will take at least 18 months to complete. june 2008 start - moving in early 2010?????
adue wrote:
a academy built in 3 months time well that would be a miracle.
they not even knocked down all the houses yet
cant wait to see this is it another fine mess you've got us into blackburn with darwen and crapita (capita sorry)
i think if you read the story correctly it says the academy will take at least 18 months to complete. june 2008 start - moving in early 2010?????
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