New school in Evesham could be open for next year

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A NEW school which will focus on giving students all the skills they need in the workplace could open in the Vale next year, it has been announced.

South Worcestershire College, based in Davies Road, Evesham, revealed plans to expand with a new school for 300 pupils aged between 13 and 18 in September 2013.

Named the South Worcestershire School of Enterprise, it will provide students with real-life employability skills, vocational training as well as core GCSE subjects including Maths, English, Science, Business Studies and Information Technology.

Students will also get weekly work experience to develop personal skills such as teamwork, self-management and communication. They will also receive personal coaching to make sure they are ready for work as soon as they leave.

The school's sixth form will focus on students becoming independent business people learning in a real-world setting.

Details as to whether or not the students will move into a new building at the Davies Road campus are yet to be revealed but the college said it will 'develop existing facilities on or near its present campus'.

South Worcestershire College principal Michael O'Brien said the new school would provide an alternative option for pupils to Evesham High School and Prince Henry's High School.

"There is a belief that pupils are not learning real-life working skills in schools and we want to open a new school which changes that conception," he told the Observer. "We want to make sure every student is an attractive future employee for any business.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for the young people of Evesham, Pershore and the surrounding areas. We want students who want to become top employees, managers and great business people.

"The students who come here will do work experience and will require the work skills needed to become great employees of the future.

"We also want business leaders and companies in the area to get involved with the new school and help develop young people into becoming great professionals."

Thousands of parents have been informed about the plans and have been invited to a crucial meeting at the college on Wednesday, February 15 at 7pm where the school will be discussed further. If the meeting is successful college bosses will go ahead with the plans.

"The meeting is very much make or break for the proposal," Mr O'Brien added. "If the majority of parents and the people of Evesham want this new school then it will definitely go ahead. It will be great to see as many parents there as possible giving there views."