THE principal of Warrington’s new Free School – King’s School, Woolston – has met Education Secretary Michael Gove in London.
He was keen to discuss the innovative nature of the curriculum which will be on offer when the school opens in 
September – and seemed to like the concept.
Shane Ierston was invited to London to meet Mr Gove and was pleased to be able to outline the new school’s policy.
He said: “We firmly believe that academic success does not come from lots of revision classes just before GCSEs.
“Success at 16 comes from firm foundations in Year 7, exciting teaching and high aspirations from the moment the child arrives with us.”
Mr Ierston said the school would encourage five distinct character building habits from day one – self-esteem, perseverance, honesty, high aspirations and endeavour.
“Each of these will permeate every lesson that we deliver and the wider life of the school.
“King’s School has a longer day which caters for important enrichment activities and also provides key support to students, ensuring that every student reaches their true potential.
“The school’s specialism is leadership and enterprise. We hope that King’s will become a respected proving ground for the leaders and business entrepreneurs of the future.”
King’s School is due to open on a shared site with Bruche Primary School in September. Preliminary work has already started on converting currently unused classrooms.
But a new purpose-built school is to be built off Hillock Lane, Woolston – hopefully in about two years.
Picture: King’s School principal with Michael Gove
Free School head meets Gove
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
Perhaps he could have asked Gove the following;
1) why he has an overwhelming urge to interfere in the running of mainstream schools while giving free rein to “free schools”
2)How does Gove’s attack on the work of school governors fit in with “The Big Society” – surely they are a fine example of it.
3) Why do students at “Free schools” and academies have different nutitional needs to those at local authority run schools, and therefore can be served any old rubbish at school lunches?
Has anyone who lives in Woolston as I do and uses Woolston park Regularly been consulted about the loss of a large section of the park ?? in short no they have not ??
James, try this as a search on Google “Schools increase property prices”.
Schools are much better neighbours than housing estates, one way or another the land will be used, so be careful what you fight for!!!!
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-1684490/House-prices-46-higher-close-to-good-schools.html
The longer day bit sounds good….. My son starts at Great Sankey High School in September and their school day will finish at 2:30 every day!!….. so much for working families!!
It’s a school – not a childminding service.
Oh grow up nick…….. We are talking about 11 year old kids being allowed to wander the street at 2:30 in the afternoon….. Maybe if you are rich enough to have a dutiful wife at home cooking tea and washing and ironing or on benefits that is great for you…. some have to work for a living just to afford to live and some are single parents trying to stay off benefits….(never thought of that one now did you???) but then again; just the kind of ill thought out; smart ass comments we come to expect from you I guess….
Interesting you have in previously posted here and elsewhere criticisisms of people for being left-wing and socialists, and yet believe that schools should stay open longer to become a state funded child-minding service, a true nanny state – try to be consistent at least 😉
so you think schools should kick 11 year old kids out on the street at 2:30 in the afternoon while paying teachers ridiculous salaries for a supposed professional and full time job?…. get real. Schools should teach between 9 and 4 like they always used to…. no wonder the kids are half-illiterate these days….. mind you; I guess the nice little earner for the teachers is the after school club no doubt…… Overtime I wonder???