East Lancashire work-based college will be open to ‘all abilities’ (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire work-based college will be open to ‘all abilities’

1:30pm Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in News By Nafeesa Shan, Reporter

A NEW work-based learning school in East Lancashire won’t just be for students who ‘struggle’, according to the newly appointed managing director.

Headteacher Martin Callagher, 52, has secured the job at the Visions Learning Trust university technical college in Burnley which opens next September.

But the Corpus Christi Catholic Sports College, Fulwood, head will take charge from September to prepare the centre for its first intake of 14 to 19-year-olds.

Mr Callagher, who has created an engineering hub at his school, said: “I see that we will be able to offer opportunities to children right across the range.

“It will be for learners who maybe struggle in 11 to 16 schools, those who are practical and brighter students. We are working with the University of Central Lancashire and Liverpool John Moores University.

“We will be offering A levels to for students of any aptitude.

“It is going to provide a solid piece of the jigsaw in Burnley.

“It is not going to be run as a school, students will start early and leave early so they can develop the young learners in line with work.

“It won’t suit everybody but will suit be suitable for a lot of young people who will go on to do interesting and fantastic things.”

A university technology college aims to provide an experience for the ‘workforce of the future’ more in line with what they can expect when they get a job.

The Visions Learning Trust has Training 2000 as its lead sponsor. It specialises in construction and engineering and companies including Aircelle, Chubb, Cobam and Rolls Royce have signed up to deliver GCSEs, BTecs, a competence business curriculum and A-levels.

Mr Callagher, who started teaching in 1983, said: “This is an opportunity to start something from scratch.

“It is great because we are breaking new ground and taking a fresh look at how we do things.”

He said: “It is a fantastic opportunity and is part of something different, something new where we will be engaging with employers.

“The college will provide a fantastic opportunity for young people in Burnley and the surrounding areas to access outstanding education that is linked directly to develop the skills and knowledge that local employers want and need.”