‘Toddler to Graduate’ Academy to be part of Olympic legacy

ENGLAND – With the 2012 Olympic sailing events going to Dorset, The Isle of Portland is to get a world class Academy which will provide education for children from the early years, right through secondary, sixth form and possibly even university – Schools secretary Ed Balls has announced.

The Academy will open in September 2011 with £24m (NZ$60.2) extra government funding for new buildings opening in 2014.

Local education expert Prof. Stephen Heppell from Bournemouth University will be the lead sponsor for the school, with the Royal Navy, Dorset County Council and the local PCT all expected to co-sponsor.

Prof. Heppell’s vision is for an Academy that, in time, could include a ‘University of Dorset’ element for 18 to 21-year-olds, specialising in workplace learning.

This would be the first school in the country that could provide a continuous education from a child’s early years right through to when they leave university as a young adult.

The Academy will replace a local secondary school and will include local primary provision. The school will provide 210 primary places, 750 places for 11 to 16-year-olds and 200 sixth form places.

Mr Balls said: “This is an exciting new step for Portland and the Academies programme. The idea of an all ages Academy is a recent innovation – the idea that an Academy could provide university places too is truly pioneering.”