Young adult news
Students champion new centres for learning
Date: 20 March
Knowsley students are at the forefront of a campaign to raise awareness of the exciting new changes to education in the borough.
The first of seven brand new schools – to be called ‘centres for learning’ – will open in less than a year’s time and a new campaign fronted by students, staff, parents and residents is set to highlight the benefits they will bring.
The £150 million programme to replace all of Knowsley’s secondary schools with state-of-the-art buildings is the biggest single investment ever in the borough.
They will bring up to date facilities with the latest technology and flexible, multi-purpose interior spaces. A modern curriculum is being designed by staff in Knowsley to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need for the modern world. The curriculum will reflect the very latest Government thinking and is set to be at the leading edge nationally.
The centres for learning will also become hubs of the local community, offering services, leisure and learning opportunities to all ages.
Students have been at the heart of the developments in education in Knowsley from the start. Three years ago, a design festival brought young people together from across the borough to produce ideas for what the new centres for learning should look like and offer.
Following on from that, they were involved in the process to choose the company to build the centres for learning. Along with other interested groups such as staff, parents, governors and residents they went on visits to see examples of good architecture in Britain and abroad and had the opportunity to question the three short listed companies at specially arranged sessions.
The groups had 15 per cent of the final vote which chose Transform Schools, part of Balfour Beatty Capital, as the partner to build and maintain the centres for learning.
Now students, staff, parents and residents will feature in a new campaign to ‘champion’ the benefits of the centres for learning.
One of them, Peter Greggs, 14, a student at Halewood College said:
“The new building will be more modern and a better environment to learn in. The lessons are going to be very different as well. We’ve been told at assemblies that there’s going to be more activities and project type work, and we’ll be using technology more as well.
“I’m really excited about being part of the campaign. It was a chance to be involved in the plans for the new centre and as I’m interested in architecture I thought it was a good opportunity.”
Peter’s mum, Jean Greggs, a former pupil of Halewood College said: “I think the new centres will be brilliant. A real boost for the community and something positive for the area at long last.”
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ron Round said: “We’ve always seen these new centres for learning as being at the very heart of our efforts to regenerate the community. We believe that they will bring unrivalled opportunities to improve the lives of all our residents – giving young people the very best educational start in life and others the chance to access services, leisure and learning near where they live in excellent environments.”
Councillor Graham Wright, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “The very best advocates for the new centres for learning are the people who will benefit from them the most. We’ve involved staff, students and others every step of the way because these are their facilities and we wanted them to be the stars of the campaign.”
Ends
Notes to Editors:
- The first of Knowsley’s seven new centres for learning will open in January 2009 and the rest will open in stages between then and January 2010.
- The campaign will feature bus advertising, billboards, posters and leaflets.
- The photograph shows Peter Greggs at the launch of the campaign with left to right Cllr Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, mum Jean Greggs, Damian Allen, Knowsley’s Executive Director of Children’s Services with the new Halewood Centre for Learning being built in the background. The Campaign Banner is one of a number of creative images from the campaign.
Press Enquiries: Knowsley Council Media Team, 0151 443 3537