WE’RE A SCHOOL - SO WHAT’S DIFFERENT? We’re now building a brand new state -funded school in Bicester. ● focused on preparing ambitious students for success ● transferrable skills, resilience, real-world experience ● employer partners who are determined that our students are ready to thrive in local and global growth industries In addition to a high quality education, students pursue an exciting mix of project-based learning and valuable industry experience that will help set them up for excellent career and higher education options.
THE PROJECT PARTNERSHIP - The story so far Our lead academic partner is: - Activate Learning Our key industry partners are: - A2dominion - Bioregional - Brita - Chiltern Railways - Oxford Brookes University - RED Engineering - WBS - Willmott Dixon - Zeta Specialist lighting
A GREAT TRACK RECORD IN EDUCATION The lead sponsor of Bicester Technology Studio is Activate Learning, an education group involved in secondary education, higher education and apprenticeships provision, and three further education colleges in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Activate Learning has recent experience in successfully opening two new schools: UTC Reading, which specialises in Computer Science and Engineering and also UTC Oxfordshire in Didcot, which specialises in Life Sciences and Engineering. - Both schools opened on time and on budget - Both schools are oversubscribed - Students come from a 15 mile catchment area and were prepared to move at age 14 to start GCSEs in year 10 UTC Reading was recently graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted -
THE STUDIO SCHOOL LEARNING EXPERIENCE The core of our vision is excellent learning that builds success. We will enhance the established classroom model with challenging and engaging lessons that are further extended by project-based learning and employer led experiences. This element of applied learning both deepens and embeds skills and knowledge, giving relevance to content and also enables students to personalise some elements of their experience. Our vision is to provide students with an enjoyable, relevant, engaging and stretching curriculum, with a large element of hands-on technical and employer based learning. This is the advantage of a Studio School .
WHAT IS A STUDIO SCHOOL AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM MY CURRENT SCHOOL ? - Input from industry partners - Replicates the work environment and feels more like the workplace than a school Systems designed to support fewer - students than some schools. This ensures closer working relationships and a dynamism in the school environment - Dress code, smart formal and workwear replace school uniform Projects and practical work enhance - classroom learning Develop skills in the CREATE framework - Additional dedicated time at school replaces - traditional homework - Weekly employment-based activities - Times of the day
SPECIALISING IN BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING Bicester is the UK’s first eco town and is forecast to double in size by 2040, bringing - a wealth of new business opportunities and becoming a centre of excellence for new eco-industries - The economic development plan for the region promotes a new range of businesses focused on sustainable construction, new technologies, logistics and distribution We will provide a new local choice in education, with a curriculum focused on Business and Engineering subjects, enhanced with project work and employer led learning to help meet the needs of North Oxfordshire and beyond. Bicester Technology Studio aims to directly support the region’s employers, further education establishments and universities with creative, resilient, experienced and dedicated students.
This diagram shows the typical characteristics of a BTS learner and how the school will lead to career pathways in local growth industries.
PROGRESSING WELL
KEY FACTS 1. Launching in September 2016 from new, purpose-built facilities in Bicester (under construction now) 2. Offering 110 places for boys and girls in Year 10 and Year 12 from September 2016, growing to 310 students aged 14 to 19 by 2020 3. No fees for any students and no entrance test for Year 10 4. A regional catchment area spanning approximately 15 miles 5. Clear progression for all students into higher education, employment and apprenticeships 6. GCSEs, A-levels and BTEC study supporting our specialism 7. A curriculum enhanced by practical project based learning and problem solving, developed in partnership with leading local employers 8. The Studio School focus on targeting work experience and coaching using the CREATE framework Curriculum in years 10 and 11 – core GCSEs and options including additional GCSEs and BTEC 9. qualifications (mapped to EBacc) 10. Options in years 12 and 13 - A-levels, BTEC qualifications, specialist learning and a strong emphasis on leadership and employability skills
CREATE FRAMEWORK The CREATE framework has been developed to embed essential workplace skills. Year 12 students will need to meet entrance criteria
WHY PROJECT-BASED LEARNING? You've done regular school, you get it and you know how it works. An analogy is an American couple visiting Europe on the holiday of a lifetime. 21 countries in 21 days by train. They manage it, covered all 21 countries! They return home and go through their pictures but find they are looking at pictures and arguing, "was this one France or Switzerland, or somewhere else?” After a while, they come to the inevitable conclusion that the holiday was rushed, too much to cover! If only they'd got off the train and stayed over a few days, enjoyed the local food and listened to the sound of conversations, the language being spoken by native speakers.
PROJECT BASED LEARNING Allows you to ‘get off the train and explore’ - Projects are memorable, you can personalise your experience - Work with our academic and employer partners in a realistic setting - Build skills, experiences and a portfolio of work - Showcase successes at the end of projects to peers, staff, parents and guests EXAMPLE PROJECT: “IS SOLAR ENERGY A VIABLE SOLUTION?” There could be varied approaches to this project, students are able to personalise elements to include: - Design and planning - Hands on construction - Design and source materials for solar energy solutions - Power generation - More research on global energy use - Water filtration - Recycling
EXAMPLE STUDENTS – YEAR 10
YEAR 10 CURRICULUM Core Compulsory Learning Specialist Learning Options Applied Learning Options GCSE Mathematics GCSE Product Design BTEC Level 2 Engineering (Includes DT Options) (some compulsory units) GCSE English Language GCSE Business Studies BTEC Level 2 Business Studies GCSE English Literature GCSE Geography Project based and Independent Learning GCSE Sciences (3) GCSE Art Additional Vocational Qualifications Core Enrichment GCSE Computing Work based and employer accredited learning The Big Debate GCSE Language Elective Subjects Studio Sport Some students will receive extra Personalised enrichment or time in Core Subjects additional courses
How Year 10 students will spend their week
EXAMPLE STUDENTS – YEAR 12
YEAR 12 CURRICULUM Extended Core Learning Options Specialist Learning Options Applied Learning Options A-level Mathematics A-level Product Design BTEC Level 3 Engineering A-level Physics A-level Business Studies BTEC Level 3 Business Studies A-level Biology A-level Geography Independent Learning A-level Art Additional Vocational Qualifications Core Enrichment A-level Computing Work based and employer accredited learning The Big Debate A-level Language Elective Subjects Studio Sport (optional) Some students will study level 2 Personalised enrichment or Maths and/or English additional courses
How Year 12 students will spend their week
HOW TO APPLY JOIN AT 14 JOIN AT 16 - There will be 70 Year 12 places available in - There will be 40 Year 10 places September 2016. If you are currently in Year available in September 2016. 11, you can join the Bicester Technology - To apply for a place in Year 10 at Studio after your GCSEs in August 2016. BTS, please complete the online There is no catchment area for the sixth form. application form on our website – - You can apply for your place in Year 12 at www.bicestertechstudio.org.uk BTS on our website now: www.bicestertechstudio.org.uk. We will invite you for a meeting to discuss your application. - In order to gain entry to the sixth form, you must have passed GCSE English and mathematics at grade A* - C. You will also need to achieve five GCSEs at A*-C. If this is not the case, you will be able to join a one- year programme at Level 2 that will prepare you for the Level 3 course the following year.
CATCHMENT AREA Catchment criteria only applies to Year 10. Year 12 are welcome to apply from any location.
THE PLEDGE We aim to provide every student who successfully completes their studies at Bicester Technology Studio with the opportunity to progress on to one of the following: - further education - an apprenticeship - higher education - a relevant employment opportunity AMBITION DETERMINATION EXCELLENCE
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