New scheme begins to prepare East Durham children for world of work

Principal, Sally Hudson and Assistant Principal, Karyn Vose with some of the first intake of students, Ryan Blair, Emma Lee, Charlie Bruce, Sammy Harboard, Jamie Richardson and Codie Broughton at the Apollo Studio Academy at East Durham College.

More than 80 students aged 14-17 have started the new term at the Apollo Studio Academy – East Durham’s first-ever studio school.

It will give students a more practical approach to learning, aimed more towards the working enviroment.

The academy, based at East Durham College, in Peterlee, offers a new and exciting approach to education.

Bosses say the strategy has been designed to enable students to achieve their very best, through high quality, practical teaching and learning and project-based learning.

As well as a nine-to-five school day, students will take part in continuous work experience placements throughout their time at the new school.

The academy has set up links with local employers, who will provide work placements, such as Northumbria NHS, Caterpillar, NSK, Northumbrian Water and Kier among others.

Apollo Studio Academy principal Sally Hudson, is delighted to get the school open and can’t wait to see the students get settled into their new environment.

She said: “It’s been a long two years leading up to this day, but it’s finally here.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to get to this point, but it’s now great to say the Apollo Studio Academy is open.

“We have a great new learning area for our fantastic set of new students and they can’t wait to get down to the hard work.

“Apollo is a new style of school for the area and it gives the students in East Durham more options on how they want to learn.

“The school will mix both academic and practical together, in a project-based style, building up employability skills before students head out on a weekly work placement.

“We believe the teaching style at the Apollo Studio Academy will be great for employers in the North-East and can help build a brighter future for the area.”

During its creation, Apollo has closely analysed labour market information to find out what employers in the local area are looking for from students.

From the study the academy has focused on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) and health and social care.