26 Mar 2009

A “golden opportunity” was heralded last night as a King's Lynn school that is bidding to be Norfolk's third academy unveiled the College of West Anglia (CoWA) as lead sponsor of the £25m project.

The announcement reinvigorates plans to transform The Park High, which has been talked about as a potential academy for more than two years.

CoWA is set to be supported by co-sponsors Norfolk Charitable Trust and Norfolk County Council, with enterprise as a key feature, possibly a specialism.

If the project moves forward, it would follow the Open Academy at the former Heartsease High in Norwich and an expected academy that could open at Earlham High in Norwich in September.

The proposal mirrors the Earlham High model, where Norwich City College has come forward as lead sponsor, with co-sponsors including the county council, Norwich School and the University of East Anglia (UEA).

After the drawn out process of identifying sponsors, the plan for The Park High is set to accelerate, with the formal expression of interest expected to go to schools secretary Ed Balls next month.

If all goes smoothly, the school could open as an academy in its current buildings at Gaywood in September 2010 and could move to a new complex as early as September 2012.

The new building is expected to be close to the site of CoWA's planned new college on the Nar-Ouse Regeneration Area (Nora) site at South Lynn.

A spokesman for the school said the close links with the college would “open up many opportunities” for students to benefit from vocational courses and further and higher education opportunities.

Dr Bob Rogers, executive head teacher of The Park High, said: “This is a golden opportunity for the school and also for King's Lynn. It is a proposal which has the support of governors, staff and parents.

“We are delighted the college is to be the lead sponsor. It will have a strong educational input and we can build on our existing valuable links. Park students will be able to benefit right across the education spectrum.”

He added: “Becoming an academy will secure the future of the school, which will be more vocationally-based delivering skills for a 21st century economy and with an innovative curriculum.”

David Pomfret, principal of CoWA, said: I am delighted that the college will be the lead sponsor of the first academy school in King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

“As one of the main providers of education in the area, we are committed to extending and improving opportunities for the young people of the area.

“Taking the lead role in a new academy school will enable us to make a major contribution to young people's learning, leading to improved post-16 participation and skills development.”

Laura Foster, head of the Norfolk Charitable Trust, said: “The academy development is an exciting and essential opportunity for enterprise and learning institutions to work together. The Norfolk Charitable Trust supports economic development and we believe in learning programmes that support an entrepreneurial culture and meet the needs of businesses today.”