Information on Loughborough

Thumbs up for Melton and Vale of Belvoir partnership options

Posted on 29/10/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council

28 October 2009

Thumbs up for Melton and Vale of Belvoir partnership options

Secondary school students in Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir have given the thumbs up to the pioneering opportunity to take courses at other partner schools.

Year 10 students can choose to take a GCSE option delivered by another partner secondary school.  For example, dance at Long Field School, Spanish at John Ferneley College, lens media at King Edward VII School and catering at Belvoir High School are just some of the GCSE options available.

The exciting partnership options have been introduced as part of the £45 million reorganisation of schools in Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir.  This aims to raise standards of attainment and achievement by pupils, building on current school excellence.

Partner secondary schools still deliver all of the core subjects and a range of options.  However, introducing the partnership options gives students more choice from a wider range of subjects which could not be delivered by a single school.

Students can study the partnership options, which were introduced at the beginning of this term, on Thursday afternoons with transport provided to the host school.

Isla Parmar, a King Edward VII student who studies the dance GCSE at Long Field, said: “I really enjoy the course – it’s good fun.  We’ve been learning ballet and street dance.

“It’s a good idea that we can take courses at other schools – it gives us more choice.”

Robbie Stephens, a John Ferneley student who studies the catering GCSE at Belvoir High, said: “I love studying catering and am hoping to eventually join the navy as a chef.

“Being able to choose to study a course at another school means there’s more chance to study the subjects you’re most interested in.”

Students can also study diplomas in engineering and creative and media, which are taught at Brooksby Melton College.  More of the diplomas, which are for 14-19 year-olds and mix learning in the classroom with practical work, are to be introduced next year and in 2011.  They will be delivered by the partner schools, Brooksby Melton College and a new Post-16 Centre.

For more information about the Melton Mowbray and the Vale of Belvoir schools’ reorganisation, visit: www.leics.gov.uk/meltonvob