Last updated 07:01, Sunday, 16 November 2008

CUMBRIA county council has laid out the pros and cons discovered in the one site or two debate.

CUMBRIA county council has laid out the pros and cons discovered in the one site or two debate.

These are in its document Planning 11-16 education for Barrow - The Potential Academy - one site or two?

ONE SITE - Concerns

• The academy would be too large. Two campuses, each eventually having up to 600 students, would be closer to views expressed during the previous consultation.

• Choice would be restricted. Two campuses with different provision on each would offer more choice on both location and educational grounds, while giving access to facilities on both sites.

• Community-based schools would be lost. Operating secondary education in Barrow from four rather than three sites would reduce that impact.

• Secondary school population is due to grow. Should this happen in 10-15 years time, two 600-place campuses would provide extra places more easily.

• The Parkview site would generate more congestion and traffic.

TWO SITES - Disadvantages:

• A more limited and less flexible staffing organisation.

• Loss of teaching and learning time due to movement between sites.

• Some inconsistency in expectations regarding behaviour and standards.

• A less wide range of curriculum choice overall for students.

• With fewer students in each year group, less precise ability grouping is possible with reduced potential for the most able to be stretched and those needing support to be properly targeted.

• Tracking students’ progress, behaviour and attendance at school would be more difficult as they move between campuses.

Advantages

• Opportunities to develop an individual character for each campus through different specialist facilities.

• Students would benefit from a smaller school environment that could offer a better sense of ownership,security and belonging.

• The two campuses could offer different courses to students aged 14 and above so that they could take advantage of a more personalised curriculum.

FINAL POINTS

• A two campus academy would mean £10m to £15m more investment in the town to complement that made to primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, the University of Cumbria and the wider regeneration of Barrow.

• Two smaller campuses might provide a better context for hosting other local community services, such as sports facilities, and reduce travelling distances.