Transform Schools

Future-proof design processes

The latest announcement from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) states that food technology is once again set to become a compulsory part of the National Curriculum.

Transform Schools with its forward-thinking ethos and future-proofing design processes and solutions, is proud that its schools in Rotherham are already prepared for this curriculum change. The new schools have fully equipped food technology rooms that totally support practical work.

The DCSF report that around 800 new food technology teachers are to be trained between 2008-11 and from September 2011 practical cookery will be available for all KS3 pupils.

Headteachers are already preparing to review their existing catering equipment, room layouts, capacity and how everything is currently being utilised. However, when all this takes place, as well as benefiting pupils, school catering facilities could also benefit the local community in the form of adult education and evening classes.

Preparing for the future – DCSF news 2008

• The Government is providing £5.5m of funding to support dance in schools. The initiative (also involving the Arts Council and Department for Culture, Media & Sport) will establish a new organisation called Youth Dance England (YDE).

• Ed Balls has welcomed a £200m package to raise standards in secondary schools and focus on low GCSE attainment figures. The new ‘National Challenge’ programme will improve all schools with less than 30% five A-C grades (including English and maths). This links in nicely with our news about increased attainment figures in Rotherham and we look forward to the programme.

Promoting future catering opportunities

As part of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) bidding programme, Transform Schools is also heavily promoting pupil usage of its school kitchens. This is part of delivering 14-19 diplomas and is aimed at encouraging and enabling pupils to gain more customer-facing skills.