Following approval from the Department for Education (DfE) for the new University of Birmingham School and Sixth Form to open in 2015, the University is launching a public consultation on a range of areas including the proposed admissions policy, curriculum and new building plans.
Extending the University’s excellent academic education to 11-18 year olds in region, the purpose-built school is to be located close to the main Edgbaston campus on the University’s Selly Oak site, subject to necessary permissions. Strong ties with the University will enrich education provision by channelling world leading expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) as well as significant strengths in fields as diverse as music, sports and languages. Working closely with the University’s School of Education, the School will integrate teacher education, school improvement and research-informed practice into school life.
The fully comprehensive, free to attend and co-educational school will meet a need for more secondary places in the region. It will seek to bring together children from all over Birmingham and beyond into a single learning community to create an environment where all have the opportunity to excel.
Professor Edward Peck, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the University School and Sixth Form, said: ‘The vision of the University of Birmingham School and Sixth Form is to transform lives by bringing pupils together from across the city in a vibrant learning community that will maximise every individual’s personal and academic achievement. The School will have high academic standards with an emphasis on personal development. The relationship between the University and the School is an essential part of the unique nature of this school. As one of the UK’s first University Training Schools, it will embed teacher training and trainee teachers into every aspect of activity and develop the next generation of outstanding teachers for the region.’
Further information about the proposals for the school, are available on the dedicated University School pages of the website.
Public consultation on the plans for the school, including the draft admissions policy, proposed curriculum and the building and site, launched at the University's Community Day on 9 June and will run until 2 August. In addition to an online survey, the University is holding a range of drop-in sessions for the parents and guardians of prospective pupils and other interested parties across Birmingham as an opportunity to learn about different aspects of the planned school, including admissions and curriculum and to express views on the plans.
Please visit the Your Views page of the website for information on the consultation programme and to register to receive email updates. For further enquiries please email universityschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk
The school will take in pupils to years 7 and 12 in September 2015, growing to full capacity of 1,150 over 5 years.
For media enquiries, please contact Samantha Williams, University of Birmingham Press Office, +44 (0) 121 414 6029