School & Community

Visioning

The council and LEP have created visioning processes with the whole school community to help scope the potential for the Government funding to act as a catalyst to create redefined, 21st century community facilities.

Pupils have been given the opportunity to comment on the input from ‘adults’ including staff, parents, governors and members of the local community. As a result of pupils having an equal say to adult groups and feeling able to influence the final design, they have a strong sense of belonging and ownership for their new school.

Click here to view a film which shows how Nottingham City Council's 'visioning process' involved the whole school community to scope the potential for the BSF funding to act as a catalyst to create redefined, 21st century community facilities

Click here to read a case study about Nottingham’s innovative approach to student engagement through a ‘Designs for Learning’ course


Sustainability

Sustainability is a key consideration in the design of the schools. The new schools will contribute to the Council’s ambition to become a carbon-neutral council by 2016 and a carbon neutral city by 2100. For example, bio-diesel combined heat and power technology at new build schools will enable up to 70% of their energy requirements to be generated on-site from renewable energy sources.

Click here to read a case study about how LEP is making Nottingham City Council’s zero carbon vision a reality

Click here to read a case study published by Partnerships for Schools- which demonstrates Nottingham’s commitment to sustainability at Southwark Primary School.




Community hubs

Schools are being positioned as hubs in their communities, energising and revitalising local areas. Communities surrounding each of the schools will be encouraged to use the new school facilities.

These vibrant community ‘hubs’ will lead to new and improved ways of working, involving the co-location of services and agencies, to maximise the support available to children, young people and their families.


Jobs and training for local people

The LEP is boosting Nottingham’s economy by creating jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities and using local suppliers.

The rebuilding and re-modelling of Nottingham’s schools has created hundreds of jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers;

  • One third of the local labour force are residents from Nottingham City
  • Work placements have taken place for 58 apprentices from Nottingham City, giving people who want to learn skills such as joinery and brick-laying the opportunity to work on the new schools
  • Work experience placements for young people and those affected by homelessness have also been offered on some sites
  • The long term unemployed are being supported back into work through training programmes that teach new skills and provide qualifications for a job within the construction industry


Dave Cope, Surveying Director of John’s of Nottingham Ltd said: “John’s of Nottingham employ up to six new apprentices each year from local schools, and aim to support them through their development to full Tradesman status.”

[Information correct as of 7 July 2010]