Britain’s first regional academy for manufacturing and engineering proves a sell out success with Staffordshire's youth as applications overwhelm the institution.
The JCB Academy has been forced to open a waiting list for places at the unique £22 million regional centre of learning after becoming fully subscribed months ahead of its September opening.
A total of 170 young people have enrolled for Year 10 and the Sixth Form places at The Academy which will help nurture the UK engineers and business leaders of the future.
The enthusiastic response of parents and students to the only learning establishment of its kind in the UK means proves that there is a real appetite among young people to experience more vocational education patterns. It is to be hoped that more manufacturing organisations with a feeling of responsibility for the future security and competitive strength of the industry, will be moved to put their economic backing behind similar enterprises by the clear success of this project, 10% funded by JCB and 90% government backed. It is also to be hoped that our incoming government prove sensitive to the over whelming positive response to the academies educational paradigm continue to invest in its development.
JCB Academy Principal Jim Wade said: “We are delighted that The Academy is fully subscribed and that it has proven to be so popular that there is now a waiting list for places. I am sure this kind of interest will continue in the future.”
The Academy, based in the renovated historic Grade II listed Tutbury Mill, close to JCB’s World Headquarters at Rocester, will welcome 120 Year 10 students (14-year olds) who will spend two years studying for the new Diplomas in Engineering and Business as well as GCSEs in the core subjects of Maths, English, Sciences, a modern foreign language and ICT.
In addition 50 Year 12 Sixth Form students have been awarded places to study for Advanced Engineering and Advanced Business Diplomas. Eventually, the world class learning facility will cater for a maximum of 540 young people.
For student looking to enrol into Year 10 in 2011 applications will be accepted from September 2010.
