Specialist ‘studio’ school set to serve up international food and travel in city

Studio schools are a new style of education provider that will deliver specialised education to no more than 300 pupils between the ages of 14 to 19.

Bradford College is set to open three schools in the city centre. The studio school specialising in international food and travel will open in September.

A location for the school is yet to be announced but the college has said it will be within the city centre and Bradford’s “learning quarter”.

Bradford College also plans to open two more studio schools in 2014 specialising in film, theatre and costume, and health occupations.

The schools are being sponspored by the McMillan Education Trust, a charity which has been set up by the college and which already sponsors two academies in the Bradford district.

The international food and travel school aims to equip people to work in the restaurant and tourism trade. Students will study GCSEs, A-levels and vocational qualifications such as BTEC diplomas. They will also go on weekly work placements with local employers such as the Aagrah Restaurants Group. The firm’s managing director, Mohammed Aslam said: “The studio school is an exciting innovative learning experience which the Aagrah is delighted to support. It focuses on developing young people by linking student qualifications with on-site job training and the opportunity of earning money.”

Studio director Graham Fleming said: “Now Schools Minister Lord Hill has signed the studio’s funding agreement, The International Food and Travel Studio will be able to begin to achieve its vision of providing an outstanding learning environment, bringing together employers and education, to ensure every one of our students has the greatest opportunity to succeed in life.”