Young People

About Southwark schools for the future

Building a brighter future where every child comes first

The vision

"The face of Southwark needs to change… it needs to become a more attractive borough"

Our vision for Southwark is an affordable, safe, thriving and harmonious borough in the heart of London, where learning, enterprise and employment is promoted and everyone enjoys equal life chances.

The regeneration programme is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and will make a big difference in the coming years. It includes

• Aylesbury Estate
• Elephant and Castle
• Canada Water
• Bermondsey Spa
• Bermondsey Square

Together with planned housing projects, this will create around 20,000 new houses, so we will need many new school places as a result.

But this project isn’t just about numbers, it’s about choice.

The council wants Southwark to be a child-centred community where each and every young person is inspired to learn and achieve to the best of their ability, so you can secure a positive future.

Though we have already made rapid improvements in educational standards, this vision is one of even more ambitious and long-term change, which involves investing in real innovation.

Investment for innovation

"I want to go to a good secondary school so I can get good qualifications and a good job"

We know from the £90m already invested in children’s centres, schools and academies in Southwark that good quality design inspires, innovates and transforms the way people feel and behave.

This programme is about meeting the needs of every young person in each Southwark community; and maximising your choices and opportunities by offering integrated, responsive services.

It will ensure

• An inspiring school environment in which you feel safe and secure
• High achieving teachers in Southwark who will fire up your imagination
• Learning opportunities that meet individual needs and give extra help where needed
• All ages achieving at a similar pace, to a high standard
• More students over 16 staying in education
• Improved behaviour and interest from those who are not sufficiently motivated at school right now
• Places where you achieve, are healthy and enjoy being
• Facilities for everyone in the community… not just for learning
• You are able to make the right choice for your future

Some schools are being remodelled, others rebuilt and two new schools are planned for completion by 2014.

School plans relate to the needs of each community, as identified by management, teachers, parents and most importantly, pupils.

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How you and other young people will benefit

High quality education standards – no limits to your potential

"I want better educational opportunities… School is helpful but we need better courses"

We aim to help you right from the start, even from the moment you are born, until you decide to leave education, and beyond.

Whether you are at pre-school, primary or secondary school, or studying at university or college, you will have many opportunities to learn new skills, be creative, adapt to changes, and be successful in your life.

We are setting up new children’s centres so that the youngest children will have an excellent start to their learning experiences. This will support both you and your parents and carers, by providing easier access to childcare, health and family support services.

We want to help you improve essential skills like reading, writing, maths and IT at primary school, so that it is easier for you to succeed at secondary school.

You will have the opportunity to study specialist subjects if you want to. General subjects will be more varied, so you can learn more about different faiths, cultures and ways of life.

The way you learn and the way you are taught will be transformed through the use of the latest ICT. This will include

• A better curriculum
• A personalised approach to learning and development across the board
• Better ongoing assessment of your work
• More opportunities to share your views on the school as a whole
• Tailored applications to support the development of specialist subjects
• Better choices for young people who cannot attend school for health or other reasons

There will be a greater emphasis on health (especially diet and exercise) and environmental sustainability, so you can experience the benefits and see the difference they can make.

Your food choices will be better and more varied so it will be easier to eat more healthily.

These improvements and the new and revamped facilities, will retain and attract more high quality teachers to the vibrant and progressive borough of Southwark, in the heart of a world city.

Southwark teachers will inspire you and help you to be the best that you can be.

All of this will make your life at school more dynamic and interesting, but most importantly, your potential will be unlimited.

Improved accessibility and safety

We know from talking to children and young people that safety is really important to you.

We’re drawing on a vast pool of experience in national and European organisations to give you the best possible environment in your schools.

These experts will work with our team to design new buildings and refurbish existing buildings.

We’ll aim to create spaces that

• Are easy for you to move around
• Are easy for you to study in
• You like being in when you’re on a break from classes
• Discourage bullying and keep you safe

This environment will not only transform education, but will also make school communities secure, open and welcoming to everyone.

Inclusion and equality

"I want more education and support for young people who are going through a tough time, like being a teenage mum"

You will have your own learning plan that will show you what you need to do to get good grades. This will stop people from falling behind and make everyone feel they’re getting the support they need.

We want to give you the opportunity to work alongside and learn from all kinds of people.

We know that many young people want to gain an understanding of their peers with learning difficulties, so wherever we can, we will co-locate young people with special needs with mainstream schools.

We know from past experience that well designed schools with excellent facilities and teaching standards engage you better and provide an environment where pupils are encouraged to behave well and poor behaviour is tackled.

New teaching, learning and support strategies will also make this happen.

More choice

"There needs to be more activities for young people"

Whilst we are making sure we have room for more pupils, Southwark Council is also broadening the variety of what’s on offer, such as vocational learning.

Our schools will offer an extended day that allows more teaching time and extra curricular activities.

You’ll have a more varied menu of activities with new and improved facilities for

• Sport
• Recreation
• Play
• Arts
• Outdoor activities

These and more learning opportunities will be available to you before and after school.

More responsive services

"The council, government and community need to talk to each other and work together"

As part of the Young Southwark strategy, from birth to 19 you will have access to services that will ensure high quality childcare and support to parents, carers and young people.

Everyone will have access to these services in numerous ways. It will help you identify opportunities and problems, broaden your choices and help give you the chance to realise your potential in life.

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Get involved

Have your say

"Some parts of Southwark are good, other parts not so good. We need to work together to make it all good"

We know from a recent survey that roughly a third of pupils actively contribute ideas to their school.

There will never be a bigger opportunity for great things to happen, so make this your moment to act.

We want to hear what you think about our plans.

Workshops will be run in every school to be affected, giving everyone a chance to have their say.

But if you have something to say about the project right now, why wait?
Email us to register your email address, air your views and/or be kept informed.

Something for the whole community

"Schools need a better profile... even when they are doing good, people don’t believe them"

Southwark Council wants every community to get the most out of its local schools, so it’s really important that everyone gets involved.

These new facilities will not only cater for you, but also offer adult learning and other use of the facilities for community meetings and events.

Internet cafes at secondary schools for example will also be available to parents, carers and the wider community.

So talk to everyone at home and in the community and let us know what you all think.

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The story so far

Building schools for the future

“I want to have a job which has prospects”

Building schools for the future is a key part of our Southwark schools for the future programme. Most of our funding comes from the national BSF programme.

BSF was launched by the Prime Minister in Southwark, at Sacred Heart School.

Another school in Southwark, Kingsdale Foundation School, was a pathfinder for the BSF programme and was described by the Department for Education and Skills as "setting new standards for educational architecture".

The investment in the school refurbished the entire building and created a new sports complex, a catering suite for vocational training, music block and internet café.

This is one of the first examples of what we want to achieve in Southwark.

Building work has also been done to improve The Academy at Peckham, The Charter School and Harris Academy, with the City of London Academy built from scratch.

Southwark schools for the future is more than just an idea; it is a working, practical plan that is already producing results.

An improving borough – the statistics prove it

"Things need to happen quicker…. Not enough is done fast enough"

Southwark schools for the future is about massive transformation over a short period of time.

But while we look to a more positive future, we must not forget current needs or recent achievements.

Key stage 2 results for Southwark's eleven year old pupils have gone up across the board, more than national average increases, with

• 2% increases in maths and science
• A 1% increase in English

Southwark's 14 year olds continue to get better results. Southwark is

• Second of the most improved local authorities since 2002 in key stage 3 English, maths and science tests
• In the top 25 most improved local authorities in the country

Key stage 3 results show

• 19 points improvement in the amount of pupils achieving level 5 or above in maths to 65% 
• 15 points improvement in the amount of pupils achieving level 5 or above in English to 65%
• 12 points improvement in the amount of pupils achieving level 5 or above in science to 57% 

• 50% of students obtained five or more GCSEs between the grades of A* and C
• This is up three percentage points from last year
• The borough's results have increased by 18% over the last six years

You have more learning opportunities

"We need structured places where people can go which are fun and educational"

• The Lambeth and Southwark forums have developed innovative ways to increase learning opportunities, especially vocational learning, for 14 to 16 year olds and 16 to 19 year olds. Following inspection of this service, Southwark is now leading on two new 14 to 19 projects that the rest of the nation will follow.
  
  
• Out of school learning is provided for young people from different ethnic heritages, with 39 groups funded by Southwark Council. These include supplementary schools, mother tongue schools, homework clubs and a specialist science club.
  
  
• A dedicated arts team is working with schools to promote creative and artistic talent, enabling many schools to achieve the Arts Mark accreditation. Schools have strong links with local galleries and theatres, resulting in successful initiatives like the Borough and Bankside community dance project, Southwark theatres in education and the Peckham Splash performing arts events.
  
  
• Three schools have achieved the Sports Mark award and more schools are taking part in the Southwark Community Games year on year.
  
  
• The amount of young people not in education or training has fallen by 7% over two years, from 21% in 2002 to 14% in 2004.
  
  
• Permanent exclusions have reduced almost by half, from 66 in 2003-04 to 36 in 2004-05 and more work will ensure this improvement continues.
  

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The master plan

Introduction

This ambitious project will take time to complete.

We believe in the importance of good design led by functionality.

Our schools settings should be buildings that are full of light and colour, inspirational and stimulating to students, staff, visitors and the community as a whole. Each one should be unique and responsive to its surroundings.

High quality materials and cutting edge design will ensure they are

• Robust
• Sustainable
• Renewable
• Efficient (both for energy conservation and purpose)

They will be welcoming, clearly laid out, easy to supervise and so keep pupils safe and happy.

Dry bike parks will encourage more cycling to school and the school designs will be easy to clean and maintain.

They’ll provide you with an environment you are proud of and want to take care of.

Space will be flexible, adaptable and used for a variety of things, such as

• Areas for teaching different sized groups
• Individual learning spaces
• Specialist vocational courses
• Leisure, play, nature and gardens
• Individual or small group support
• Meetings and hot desking for youth services

Initial plans

Our initial plans are below. We are going to consult internally and externally to ensure that money is being used in a creative and innovative way to transform education and get the best value we can.

These initial plans are sure to evolve as we receive comments from people and the programme develops.

Changes to Walworth

• 1,150 current secondary school pupils at Walworth School will be offered places at the academy
• The academy will still be a non-selective school for students of all abilities
• New entrants will be offered places depending on how close they live to the school
• Siblings of existing pupils will still have priority
• 60 less pupils will start each year from 2007
• Once new buildings are ready the academy can open a sixth form for students up to 18 years
• There will be 1,140 places in total: 900 secondary 11 to 16 students and 240 16 to 18 students
• The new academy will be built on the existing upper school site

Changes to Archbishop Michael Ramsey

• Archbishop Michael Ramsey Church of England School has 900 places for pupils aged 11 to 18
• The academy would provide an additional 20 new places each year
• The Academy would more than double its number of sixth form places, from 125 to 300
• Approximately 1,200 pupils would attend the new academy

Changes to Highshore

• Highshore special school currently has 120 pupils aged 11 to 16
• Highshore will be upgraded and co-located with Archbishop Michael Ramsey
• Places will reduce from 120 to 90
• Current students will not be affected and will keep a place at Highshore
• These changes are due to take place in 2010, or once the new accommodation has been built
• The school would be in new accommodation on the Archbishop Michael Ramsey school site

Changes to Bredinghurst

• Fifty boys between 11 and 16 currently attend Bredinghurst special school
• Places will increase to 70 for both boys and girls with no boarding places
• Bredinghurst will also benefit from a new build and a split location
• Key stage 4 pupils will be educated on the existing Bredinghurst site
• Key stage 3 pupils will be educated on the site currently occupied by Highshore
• These changes will take place fully in 2011, or once the second site has been completed

Changes to Tuke

• Tuke special school offers 60 places to 11 to 16 year olds
• We plan to provide an extra 30 places on a new site in 2010, or after building is completed

More information about the changes to individual schools is held on the the schools page.

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Footnote: All the quotes contained in this information are from the young people of Southwark who were consulted as part of Southwark’s youth and schools strategies.

Contact us

The Southwark schools for the future team
Tel: 020 7525 5224
ssf@southwark.gov.uk
15 Spa Road
London
SE16 3QW