Studio Schools are a new type of state school for 14-19 year olds. To be classed as a Studio School, a school must have the following seven essential elements:
- Academic excellence
- Employability and enterprise skills
- Personalised Curriculum
- Practical learning
- Real work
- Small schools
- Students of all abilities
Academic excellence
Studio Schools teach the national curriculum and offer the same key qualifications as traditional schools. What makes them different is not the qualifications offered, but rather how they are delivered. Instead of learning primarily in a classroom, students learn through enterprise projects both in the school and within the community.
Studio Schools deliver qualifications at Level 2 and above and offer GCSEs in Maths, English, dual award Science and ICT.
Employability and enterprise skills
Employability and life skills underpin all Studio School activities. Rather than term-time only, Studio Schools are open all year. Students book annual leave.
Personalised Curriculum
In Studio Schools each student has a ‘personal coach’ who will work with them to tailor the curriculum to meet their individual learning needs.
Practical learning
Students will learn the national curriculum primarily through enterprise projects involving employers and community organisations.
Real work
Students will spend a significant portion of their time in real work as employees. Pupils over sixteen will earn a proper wage. They will sign a contract of employment for a minimum of 2 days per week and will be employed on the same basis as other employees.
Students in years 10 and 11 will complete a minimum of 4 hours unpaid work-experience per week.
Small schools
The Studio Schools Trust recommends that Studio Schools provide education for approximately 300 students.
Progression opportunities for Studio School students
Studio Schools provide young people with the opportunity to choose from the full range of progression choices. Completers could go on to further or higher education, start an apprenticeship or gain employment.
If you are a school and would like to work in partnership with NEWTEC please contact Jennifer Marshall on 0208 519 5843.
Further information about Studio Schools can be found on the Studio Schools Trust website at www.studioschoolstrust.org.
