Parents Looking Forward to New Academy at Wyvern School

A SCHOOL in Weston-super-Mare deemed to be failing by Ofsted in the past is to receive a massive shake up next year when it becomes the first academy in North Somerset.

Wyvern School in Marchfields Way was rated satisfactory during its last inspection in 2009 after being given Notice to Improve in 2007.

However, this year the school achieved its best ever exam results and it is set to improve further when it coverts to the Hans Price Academy next spring.

It will be the fourth school to join the Cabot Learning Federation and will work closely with the existing members of the federation, John Cabot Academy, Bristol Brunel Academy and Bristol Metropolitan Academy.

Academy status will mean the school can access funding to rebuild and refurbish the site, grounds and buildings.

It is hoped Wyvern would get a capital allocation of £18.3 million but David Carter the executive principal said it is unlikely this sum will be allocated after the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme was put under review.

Mr Carter said: "I am delighted that we have an opening date for Hans Price Academy and that we can fulfil the vision we have for learning in the Academy.

"We are working towards opening the Academy immediately after the Easter holidays in April 2011.

"Hans Price Academy will be the first academy in Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset and we look forward to delivering a high quality education for the current and future students attending the school.

"I think it unlikely that we will receive the £18 million allocation we were originally anticipating but are hopeful to get sufficient to make a real difference to the students who will attend the Academy in the future.

"I would not expect the news about the allocation for Hans Price Academy to reach us until late December or early January 2011 and only then could we make a decision about how we would spend any such grant and the possible timescales for completion."

Students and staff are now working with Mr Carter and Armando di Finizio the principal of the new Academy to prepare for its opening.

New intake students for year six and their parents attended an Open Evening this week to hear about the plans for the new Academy.

Parents said they were excited about the academy.

Sarah Tulip, 46, a sports therapist, of Coleridge Road, as two daughters, Samantha, 11, in year seven and Georgia, 13, in year nine.

She said: “I think it is brilliant and I think the academy will be good for the area as there’s a lot of deprived families who would not be given this chance otherwise.

“I think an academy will offer them better prospects and I think it will push them harder.

“I think more modern school buildings will encourage the kids and they will put in more effort.

“My girls already love the school and they are looking forward to being part of the new academy.”

Terry Loveridge, of Bridge Road, has a 14-year-old son, Luke, in year 10.

He said: “I am all in favour of the academy because of the success of other academies in the Bristol area.

“I am just disappointed it has been delayed and politics has got in the way, which is most distressing.

“Politics should not interfere with children’s education.

“My son will be in his final year so the academy may have time to influence his final results.”

Mr Carter added: "We will continue to consult with parents and the local community during the next six months and hope you will join us when the dates are published for the meetings, which we will hold at Wyvern Community School between now and next April.

"We look forward to working with parents, school governors and other members of the community to make this project a success."