European Electronique boasts exceptional success in the Academy Programme with over 60 projects won since 2003

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy	Woodard Academies Trust	Bexhill OSP

The academies political background

To address the challenging economic situation, the Government has reduced public sector spending by billions of pounds. Part of the plan included the axing of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, expanding the Academies Act and the introduction of Free Schools.

In May 2010 the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, announced new legislation (The Academies Act 2010) which allows the Secretary of State to approve applications from schools that wish to become Academies. Unlike existing or traditional Academies (established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working with partners from the local community) no additional external sponsor will be required where a school converts to Academy status.

While there is no doubt that the expansion of the Academy programme has been met with a mixed response, it is unquestionably changing the educational landscape for the country.

What are Academies?

Academies are publicly funded independent schools, free from local authority control with the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff. They are also free from following the National Curriculum and have the ability to change the lengths of their terms and school days.

The new legislation has freed up schools to make positive decisions that affect the learners, staff and their communities. A wider range of schools can now apply for academy status - the tag of a failing school becoming an academy has gone - and now all maintained schools can apply for academy status. But the freedom to make decisions runs deeper than this; schools can now re-design a curriculum fit for 21st century learners. They are free to try out innovative ideas and place greater emphasis on the areas that matter to them most.

European Electronique’s proven track record in the Academy Programme

Having delivered in excess of 60 Academy projects since 2003, we have developed the skills and expertise to successfully implement comprehensive, innovative and customised ICT solutions. With over 20 years of experience and success in the education sector, we have an in depth understanding of the requirements to provide new learning environments which harness technology with the aim of transforming personalised learning and teaching.

Our experience gives us the credentials to ensure that the ICT investment and infrastructure will support the core functionality necessary to create an environment that will be sufficiently flexible and robust enough to accommodate new technologies in the future.

We have a flexible and unique approach to project implementation and are able to adapt to changes as they occur even to the point of revising technologies to better suit the Academy’s needs just weeks before they are installed.

Our approach which encompasses end to end design, implementation and support services allow us in partnership with our clients, to overcome any project challenges and deliver on time and to budget.

It is our belief that the Government Academy Programme is revolutionising the way in which young people learn and although some academies experience challenges, the majority of them have a positive and profound impact on their pupils and on the regeneration of the local community.

EE completed Academies including Federations