Games Workshop founder and entrepreneur to open 2 free schools
Department for Education and The Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP | 5 February 2016
One of the founders of Games Workshop, who helped revamp thecomputing curriculum, is to open 2 new free schools specialising in computer science, technology and the arts, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced today (5 February 2016) as she revealed the latest batch of this Parliament’s 500 new schools.
Drawing on his experience as a videogame entrepreneur, Ian Livingstone will open the Livingstone Academies in Tower Hamlets and Bournemouth, which will provide over 3,000 children with a rigorous education rooted in STEAM– science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The schools, to be opened under the Aspirations Academy Trust, will use the founder’s extensive links to the creative industries to instil creative thinking and enterprise in their pupils, who will sit ‘Dragon’s Den’ style competitions and start up mock companies at the schools.
Also announced today is Shireland High Tech Primary in Smethwick, Birmingham – a free school that will introduce an innovative method of schooling. Instead of the traditional model of lessons followed by homework, pupils will be expected to do the reverse in order to deepen their learning through facilitated discussions and project work in lessons.
Today 22 new schools have been approved to open – providing more than 18,000 places for parents across the country. This includes:
- 1 school in the East of England, creating 1,200 places
- 1 school in the East Midlands, creating 500 places
- 2 schools in Yorkshire and the Humber, creating 1,560 places
- 1 school in the North East, creating 1,200 places
- 3 schools in the North West, creating 2,350 places
- 2 schools in the South East, creating 1,320 places
- 3 schools in the South West, creating 2,870 places
- 1 school in the West Midlands, creating 446 places
- 8 schools in London, creating 6,756 places
