Christian charity gets go ahead for two new academies
-03/03/05
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has given the go-ahead to the two ëexpressions of interestí from Christian charity the Oasis Trust, which is working with North East Lincolnshire Council and the DfES to rebuild two local secondary schools as Academies.
Plans for the two schools, Wintringham Secondary School and Immingham Comprehensive School, include a number of community facilities such as childcare, libraries and health centres. These facilities will be developed on the existing school premises, with both schools set to re-open as academies in September 2008.
The proposed Academies will be a partnership between Oasis Trust, North East Lincolnshire Council and the DfES and will improve choice for parents and raise the overall standard of education in the local area.
It is planned that the Oasis Academy Grimsby curriculum will be enhanced by a specialism in sports and health, while the Oasis Academy Immingham will specialise in engineering and commercial skills.
ìWe are looking forward to working with North East Lincolnshire Council on these exciting plans. Our goal is to ensure that the Oasis Academies in Grimsby and Immingham become examples of excellence and innovation, raising aspirations and providing opportunities for the entire communityî said Steve Chalke, the Trust’s founder.
Councillor Andrew de Freitas, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council said; ìImproving our secondary schools is one of this Councilís top priorities. These two Academies demonstrate the Councilís resolve to work with external partners to deliver new solutions that will bring direct benefits to young people and their familiesî.
Over the coming months, North East Lincolnshire Council and Oasis Trust will be hosting a series of community consultations, providing local residents and community organisations with an opportunity to input into plans for the two academies.
Steve Chalke is also hoping to break the Guinness world record for the largest amount of sponsorship money raised by an individual running the London Marathon, which currently stands at £1.3 million. Monies raised will go towards the Oasis Academies in Grimsby, Immingham and Enfield, North London.
The Oasis Academies in Grimsby and Immingham will be the latest in a long line of education initiatives pioneered by Oasis Trust, which has already been given the go-ahead to sponsor an academy in North London due to open in September 2007.
The Oasis Trust was established by Steve Chalke in 1985, and currently delivers education, healthcare and housing initiatives in the UK and abroad.