7
FEBRUARY 2009 futures
futures
At the start of the new academic
year, St. Bees School launched
two new initiatives - the opening
of a Junior Department offering
day places for boys and girls
aged between 8 and 11 and the
establishment of a Golf Academy
based around the School's own
links golf course.
The first intake of 8-11 year olds
has their own specialist Key Stage
2 teacher who coordinates a broad
subject based education with some
input from departments of the
Senior School presently including
ICT, Latin, Music, Science and P.E.
The School's aims are to provide a
stimulating learning environment
in small classes and to put back
into learning the fun which the
School believes the Government's
obsession with national testing
has largely removed from many
primary classes.
St. Bees has also appointed its first
Director of Golf Stuart Hemmings,
a PGA Golf Professional, to run
the new Golf Academy. The
Academy offers personal one-
to-one programmes of coaching
as well as instruction for small
groups utilising a newly equipped
golf studio which houses the latest
computer software for analysing
driving and putting techniques and
the School's own links golf course
in St. Bees.
These two new initiatives have
occurred in a year in which St.
Bees School celebrated the 425th
year of its founding and clearly
demonstrate that besides being
proud of its heritage, the School
wishes to continue developing
the education that it offers. Both
the Junior Department and
Golf Academy are exciting new
ventures for St. Bees School.
St. Bees School - Looking to the Future
SCHOOLS
Zero-hour for
learning law
Y
OUNG people in Cumbria will be
staying in education or training until
the age of 18 after a landmark Bill was
given the go-ahead. The historic
Education and Skills Bill sets out that
all young people will stay in education or
training until the age of 17 from 2013, and 18
from 2015.
The legislation aims to give all young
people the chance to achieve their full
potential and provide better opportunities for
those who wouldn't usually participate in
education or training.
Currently around 83 per cent of 16- to
18-year-olds in Cumbria are in education or
training. This represents the highest rate
ever, with only 5.2 per cent of young people
being classed as not in education,
employment or training.
The new legislation will be flexible so
young people can stay at school or go to
college, get a job and continue in learning
part-time, or undertake an apprenticeship.
A new set of options is currently being
rolled out across the country to ensure that
all young people can learn in a way that
engages them and encourages them to
continue in learning for longer.
Ed Balls, Children, Schools and Families
Secretary, said: "This is one of the biggest
changes to education and training in a
generation and will benefit millions of young
people in Cumbria and beyond for years to
come.
"This is a bold step and one that we have
not taken lightly.
"But if we are to have a fair society where
all young people have a chance to do well in
life, we must ensure that everyone continues
learning.
"Too many young people drop out or end up
in dead-end jobs with no prospects of
promotion or advancement.
"In a rapidly-changing labour market and
these tough economic conditions, a job for life
is a thing of the past. Young people in
Cumbria without qualifications are going to
find it increasingly difficult to gain
employment.
"We must have an evolving education
system that reflects the requirements of
employers and the fast pace of change in
business. No young person should be left
behind.
"We do not expect every 16- and 17-year-old
to remain in the classroom � they will still be
able to work, as long as they are learning too.
"This system is about creating real options
for students so there is something for
everyone."
As part of the Bill, a new range of options
will be available for young people in Cumbria.
These reforms include new diplomas,
apprenticeships and work-related learning, as
well as more traditional qualifications such
as A-levels and GCSEs, that have been
revamped to make them more relevant to the
modern world. TIME FOR CHANGE: Parliament's new law mean big changes for young people

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