Pupils will swap classroom for workplace in new studio school

If councillors back the plan, Netherhall Learning Campus, in Huddersfield, will have one of the first studio schools in the country focused on delivering the creative and media national diploma for 14- to 19-year-olds.

Studio schools have been launched by Children's Secretary Ed Balls as a way of engaging young people who teachers believe are at risk of failing to reach their potential in a traditional classroom setting.

The Kirklees Studio School will have about 300 pupils and will provide support to other schools and colleges across Kirklees. It will be based at Netherhall Learning Campus which currently comprises an infants, juniors and high school.

Members of Kirklees Council's Cabinet committee will be asked whether they favour the proposal and to agree to hold public talks on the issue when they meet on Tuesday.

A report to members of the authority says: "The creation of a studio school is an excellent opportunity to develop new approaches to connecting business with education."

It is one of the first two studio schools being launched, along with Barnfield College, in Luton, as a pilot scheme, but Ministers want to extend the approach around the country. A further five schools have been approved in Blackpool, Oldham, South Tyneside, Lambeth and Newham.

The report to members says that if the plans are backed the Netherhall campus would be split into a half-learning and half-business environment.

It says: "In the business half we are looking to attract a number of small businesses to run their businesses from the school.

"In exchange for ample parking, state-of-the-art technologies, subsidised rent and other associated benefits they will agree to give time to the studio school (tutoring, advice, workshops, work experience and/or joint projects).

"The businesses working within the studio school will be matched to the subjects and areas being taught."

Ministers want studio schools to be small in size and to offer more practical learning than existing secondary schools. They will be able to deliver qualifications such as GCSEs, A-Levels and Diplomas for pupils aged 14 to 19.

Studio schools aim to cultivate skills as well as qualifications and have been developed to meet the needs of a significant subset of young people who do not engage with the current academically focused education system.

Mr Balls said when the pilot was proposed last year: "Studio schools offer students the opportunity to get the skills and qualifications they need through a more practical approach."These first two schools will also provide a model for other studio schools to develop across the country, by demonstrating how they can help to raise standards and offer new opportunities for young people."

The Huddersfield studio school will provide 300 places for students of all abilities aged 14 to19; 120 places for 14- to 16-year-olds and 180 places for 16-to 18-year- olds.

The studio school will have creative and media as its specialism and is due to commence as an extended pilot focused on Netherhall learners in September 2010.