By Martin Walker
Woodham College’s head teacher says the new Academy status in September is fantastic news for the school and the Newton Aycliffe community.
The school announced its conversion to an Academy a fortnight ago, with the changing coming into effect in the new school year in September.
Head Christine Forsyth has told Aycliffe Today the development is testament to the school’s recent impressive progress and strong Ofsted report.
In an exclusive Video Interview with us, she said: “To convert to an Academy, you have to prove that you’re a school that’s performing well.
“We’ve had three years of improving results, this year we’ve had a fantastic Ofsted, and that means the Government thinks we’re a school that is improving strongly.
“An Academy is, essentially, a state-run independent school, and we have a lot of freedom to take the school forward how we want to, for the benefit of children in Newton Aycliffe and the community, and it’s fantastic.”
Mrs Forsyth explained some of the imminent changes and benefits students can expect to see in the coming years.
She said: “We get more direct funding straight into the school.
“We’re investing in digital technology, we’ve already converted to wireless technology and over the summer we’ll be building an Apple Mac suite, buying new Apple Macs, iPads, so that out students will have real cutting-edge technology.
“It’s the Academy conversion that has allowed us to make that investment, and I think it’s essential.
“Technology dates very quickly, and it’s important for any forward-looking school keeps at the edge of technology, moves with the times and make sure that leaving students have the most up-to-date knowledge possible.
“While we want children to be happy in school, when they get to 16 they’ve got to move on to the next stage of employment, education or training, and we must have employable students.”
Go to our Video Vault to see the first part of our interview with Mrs Forsyth.