The Department for Education has supported the application by the University of Cambridge to establish a University Training School as part of its North West Cambridge Development.
Roger Taylor, Project Director of the North West Cambridge Development said: “As principal developer for the scheme, the University will be enabling education provision for the new community.
"We are delighted that the school will be the first University Training School at primary level, providing an excellent and inclusive education for local families. Our team has been working in partnership with the relevant authorities, education experts, schools and residents to ensure that the proposals for the primary school will be a quality resource for the local area, as well as working towards the University’s broader aspirations.”
Located on the North West Cambridge Development, the University of Cambridge Training School (UCTS) will be a three-form-entry primary school. The first priority of the school will be to provide a high-quality primary education to all its pupils. In addition, as a University Training School, the school will be closely linked to the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education and will join the well-established network of partner schools which work together to provide a PGCE programme that is rated by Ofsted as outstanding.
The school will provide education for children aged four to 11. It will be a mixed-ability co-educational school. It will not have a specific religious character, nor a particular faith ethos.
The UCTS will have an explicit focus on research-based exemplary teaching and learning practice. It will be a highly inclusive school in which pupil diversity is welcomed and where all children will be encouraged and enabled to excel. Its admissions policy will be developed in consultation with existing local primary schools, as an expression of the University’s commitment to the principle of partnership. It will serve the population of the development site and the neighbouring communities.
Marks Barfield Architects, whose iconic portfolio includes the London Eye, have been working with the University on the design for the purpose-built University Training School. Their design will meet the site-wide ambitions for sustainability and be built to BREEAM Excellent.
Public consultation on the University Training School and the detailed design of the building will take place in 2014.