As Mr Quinn promised last week, here is my blog about the next steps towards the Springboard Project and our new building! From Christmas until April we have been busy agreeing the plans for the interior of the building and I am delighted to announce that the designated contractor for the Springboard Project Free School is … Conlon Construction.

Conlon are a Preston based company who have sat down with us, listened and drawn up plans alongside our architect, Tom, to ensure we have a building that will enable us to deliver an amazing curriculum for our amazing students and amazing staff. It’s so exciting!!

I had a quick look around Conlon’s website and many of their projects have been schools similar to ours within the North West including, interestingly, Newbridge School in Wigan..

So it’s a big Springboard welcome to Frank and his team. Now the real planning begins, so at some point I’m going to be sitting down with our Springboard students to ask them how they feel their building should be shaped.

Alongside the construction part of the free school, we have also appointed our ICT consultants. Similarly to Conlon’s, Gaia Technologies, the ICT company appointed by the DfE, is based (relatively) locally…well, in Wales (which I’m sure our former Deputy, Miss John, will be pleased about!). We met with the team from Gaia last week to begin our technological journey.

Gaia, alongside out ICT advisor, Andrew Wild, have some brilliant innovative ideas which will ensure our young people have technology that enriches our vocational offer.

So, on to Key Stage 4 who, as per usual, have been super busy. Year 11 continue to be the hosts and hostesses with the most and have been baking with Miss Caines, Miss Tokelove and Mrs Roberts – although, true to form, they are also rather camera shy..

Year 11 have also been working hard towards their Functional Skills qualifications with Mr Page. On Friday morning, Jason completed his GCSE D & T Product Design exam, so fingers crossed for him in August.

Year 10 continue to carry on with their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and have been working independently around map skills in preparation for their qualifying Bronze expedition in July..

We’ve also embraced the World Cup and it’s been brilliant working out probability and outcomes with Year 10.

So here’s to another exciting week at Dean Street and…COME ON, ENGLAND!!!

Mrs Tootill
Head of Springboard Project

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