Information on Loughborough

Boost for transforming learning in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow

Posted on 13/01/2010

Leicestershire Councty Council

13 January 2010

Boost for transforming learning in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow

Plans to transform education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow-upon-Soar have progressed to the next stage.

The County Council is one of 25 authorities invited to submit a Readiness to Deliver (RTD) document to Partnerships for Schools by January 29th.  This will show how the authority will be in a strong position to use around £80 million of Government Building Schools for the Future (BSF) money to transform secondary and special education in the area.

The early invitation is a credit to the progress made in developing a clear vision for how education in the area could be transformed.  

The funding would present a fantastic opportunity to provide 21st Century schools with state-of-the-art facilities and the latest ICT and technology.

There is still no guarantee, however, that Leicestershire will secure the money at this stage.  It is expected that only six of the 25 authorities will be successful - some of which started work much earlier than Leicestershire and have revised previous submissions following advice from Partnerships for Schools.  No indication has yet been given as to when the money could be awarded.

At its meeting today, the County Council’s Cabinet has given the go-ahead to a consultation exercise about options for the future of education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow.  There are two explicit options which aim to raise standards of education in the area, removing the need for pupils to transfer school at age 14.  The consultation will also invite respondents to put forward other options if they wish to do so.

A total of 16,500 consultation documents will be distributed to schools, governors, parents, carers and others with an interest in schools in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow to give everyone a chance to have their say.

The consultation on the options will run from January 13th to March 2nd.  The RTD will state that the authority is currently consulting on possible options. The results of the consultation will be reported to Cabinet on March 9th.

Ivan Ould, County Council Cabinet Member for the Children and Young People’s Service, said: “The invitation to submit the RTD document is excellent news and a good sign that we’re heading in the right direction but there’s still much work to do to deliver change and improve standards of education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow.

“The invitation we have received will give extra impetus to the consultation.  I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to have their say.”

For details on the options and to take part in the consultation online, visit: www.leics.gov.uk/loughboroughbsf

Notes to editors

Partnerships for Schools is the body which oversees BSF on behalf of the Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).