THE FIRST students to sign up for the new
JCB Academy have been given an insight into
what awaits them in the new school year.
More than 80 people attended induction days held at the
�22 million academy, based at the historic Grade II listed
Tutbury Mill, near the digger-giant's world headquarters, in
Rocester.
The year 10 students will begin the specialist, industry-
orientated curriculum in September, which is aimed at edu-
cating young engineers and future business leaders.
A maximum of 540 young people will eventually attend
the world class learning facility.
During the induction days the future pupils had to chance
to take part in different activities including building a
speaker for an MP3 player, which involved laser cutting and
thermoforming its plastic casing and soldering the elec-
tronic components onto a circuit board.
They were also involved in an enterprise exercise and lis-
tened to a talk before going on a tour of the academy.
Academy principle Jim Wade said:"The pupils were very
impressed with the academy building, the facilities and the
range of classrooms that will be available to them.
"The activities gave the students a real flavour of their
core curriculum studies the MP3 speaker exercise allowed
them to try their hand at electronics and engineering, the
enterprise activity offered them business experience and
the tour allowed them to see where and how they will be
putting all this into practice during lessons.
"We hope they went away excited and with plenty of food
for thought, and now look forward to them arriving back
for the start of the term in September."
For the first two years, JCB Academy pupils will study for
the new diplomas in engineering and business as well as
GCSEs in core subjects such as maths, English and sciences.
The sixth form will offer 25 advanced engineering and 25
advanced business diploma places for year 12 students.
Pupils will also receive hands-on experience with JCB's
blue-chip partners such as Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Bom-
bardier, Network Rail and Harper Adams University Col-
lege.
There are still 30 vacancies left for September with an
open day next month for prospective students.
Anyone interested in attending the event on Saturday,
February 13, can telephone Diane Ross at the academy on
01889 593166 or e-mail diane.ross@jcbacademy.
com
PENMANSHIP . . . (l-r) Benjamin Cooper, Charles
Frost and Elliot Baugh at the taster day
JCB Academy vice principal Mark Henshaw helps Phoebe Jay with her project during the taster day.
STUDENTS GET AN INSIGHT INTO WORK
AT JCB'S NEW �22 MILLION ACADEMY
by Jenny Moody
jenny.moody@staffordshirenewspapers.co.uk
EYE ON THE FUTURE . . . David Hitch
Wednesday, February 3, 2010www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk12

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