Bid submitted for new Enterprise and Technology College

A bid to launch a new 14-19 college for Weston is now in front of the Department for Education.

Weston College submitted an application for The North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College (NSETC), initially for 200 students, to open in September 2014.

Described as 'a new model of learning', the NSETC will be a specialist college focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), combined with a strong business ethos – designed as the perfect springboard for higher education and successful career development.

The NSETC has wide business support from organisations including North Somerset Council, NHS Bristol, Weston Area Health Trust NHS, West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and numerous other local businesses.

The University of the West of England (UWE) have already shown their support for the new College and work is continuing to build close relationships with other local education establishments.

NSETC is among 32 groups of teachers, parents and charities to have won a place earlier in 2012 on a national programme designed to provide tailored support for groups applying to set up new schools for pupils at risk of educational disadvantage.

Run by independent education charity, the New Schools Network (NSN), the Development Programme aims to support Free Schools groups as they prepare to submit their applications to Government.

Dr. Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College said: "We are delighted to be making this application to the Department for Education for a new education provision for Weston super Mare. We have been working with the local community for the last 10 months and have been overwhelmed with the level of local support; to date 2,000 families have already come forward to support our proposals.

"We have found the support from NSN to be of huge value and we hope to have some positive news to share with the families that have supported us in the spring, when we expect to hear whether our application has been approved by the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove."

Natalie Evans, Director of NSN said: "There are already 200 new Free Schools that have opened or been approved to open across the country, and we are absolutely delighted to have worked with over 200 groups who want to set up new schools to serve their local communities from September 2014 onwards.

"We are pleased the NSETC has benefited from our Development Programme and wish them well with their application."

For more information visit: www.nsetc.co.uk