29/01/04 - Rural Academy gets Specialist Status

Cumbria’s Rural Academy is celebrating today after being awarded Specialist School Status by the DfES (Department for Education & Skills) and becoming the first Specialist Technology College in the Country to involve 9 schools.  The Academy will now have an additional focus on their chosen subject and will receive additional Government funding to develop their specialism.

The Academy presented a 4-year school and community development plan to the DfES last year with ambitious but achievable targets and performance indicators.  It has had to raise sponsorship in order to be considered.  It has received magnificent backing from businesses, organisations and individuals across the County and beyond for its ambitions to create a unique “Virtual College”.   Gaining specialist status will enable the Academy to use the latest technologies to focus on transforming learning opportunities, raising expectations, and reducing isolation in their communities. 

County Councillor Joan Stocker Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says

“I am delighted that Cumbria’s Rural Academy has achieved specialist status. I was pleased to be at the launch of this project with John Nellist and I know just how much collaborative working and time has been given to this innovative idea.  This status will give them the opportunity of bringing significant additional funds to these 9 schools.  Everyone involved has worked extremely hard to raise £150k from business sponsors and gaining specialist status will be enhanced by funding from the government to generate an income of £1.8m over the next 4 years.  This will enable remote and distant schools to collaborate and communicate using the best information and communication technology and their local communities will benefit.  Improving opportunities for our pupils is very important and specialist status is part of a mass movement to raise standards. The Rural Academy is a model for rural education both here and beyond.  I would like to congratulate them on their success.” 

Sara Gaston-Parry, Head of Ehenside Community School in Cleator Moor and also Chair of the Rural Academy is delighted with today’s announcement.  She says

“The Academy bid represents collaboration at its very best.  Our vision of becoming the first ever Virtual Technology College in the Country is now achievable, thanks to the support of our sponsors, the authority and the DfES.  By combining to create an infrastructure to serve over 2,300 students, the Rural Academy will become renowned for its performance, innovation and care for the individual’s learning – a national and international model for success.”