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The Clitheroe Thursday, September 28th, 2006


Phoebe Is a winner


dvertiser an imes PAGE?


^^Multi-million £ super learning centre unveiled


by Faiza Afzaal


A £2m. proposal for a super new Vocational Learning C en tre in C lith e ro e has


been unveiled. Ambitious plans for


“Aspire”, a purpose-built state- of-the-art facility, which will enable pupils aged between 14 to 19 and mature students to benefit from a varied range of vocational opportunities with­ out leaving the town, are being explored by Ribblesdale School. The move comes after the


Clitheroe school was awarded a second specialism in Vocational Learning by the DfES along side its current technology spe­ cialism. It is understood that it is one


of 30 schools nationally desig­ nated and reflects its contribu­ tion to vocational learning in the past. Under the plans, which are in


their initial stages, the develop­ ment could be the size of a small primary school. As the


existing school site in Queen’s Road cannot accommodate the new building, a range of loca­ tions in Clitheroe are being explored for the development. And not only Ribblesdale pupils will benefit — other


schools in the community can reap the rewards. Headteacher Mr Simon


Smith, pictured above outside the school, joined Ribblesdale in January. One of his key pri­ orities was to introduce a more


diverse curriculum to create a wider range of opportunities for pupils to suit their particu­ lar learning style. He is excited about the proj­


ect, which he believes will not only bring to life Ribblesdale’s


■ ■ MR ST E PH EN COX,


h e a d te a ch e r at Rowland High School: “I think it’s an incredibly exciting project. “It is fundamentally some­


thing that all schools need to address. “We are quite lucky in the


Ribble Valley that we have four very different schools that all have strengths.”


ambitions, but could become a first-class facility for use by all learners of all ages in the area. “The ‘Aspire’ Centre could


provide all learners in the Rib­ ble Valley with cutting-edge facilities for delivering the new curriculum from 2008. ‘Aspire’ aims to be a hybrid between a school and a college. I t will bring to life the ambition we share with other high schools in the Ribble Valley and can build


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not just on our existing part­ nerships, but on other schools’ distinct partnerships too.” “Vocational subjects used to


target less-able students - not any more; this is for all stu­ dents. I t is a different way of learning. Rather than prepare young people for a job for life, we want to prepare them for life-long learning.”


No. 6,270 news and views from the Centre of the Kingdom v/ww.clitheroetoday.co.uk Price 60p


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