Jaywick: Rising to challenge

From the archive, first published Thursday 26th Apr 2007.

BUILDING up the reputation of a brand-new school is never easy.

And when you adopt a radical approach to learning, that task can be made much, much harder.

But this is a challenge that Jaywick's Bishops Park College has risen to - and achieved.

The secondary school was opened five years ago under the leadership of principal Mike Davies - and today **Thursday*** it celebrates its second anniversary in its Jaywick Lane home.

Back in 2002, it was decided that the school would operate a radical, thematic style of teaching, known as the "tartan curriculum".

School spokeswoman, Annie Silvester, explained: "We have left the traditional separate-subject approach behind.

"Around 70 per cent of the school's curriculum is spent on cross-curricular thematic work.

"For example, if the theme is crime and punishment, pupils will learn about Jack the Ripper in history, and about the theft of The Scream painting in art."

Because of the social and economic deprivation of the surrounding area, Bishop's Park was originally designed to be a nurturing, protective environment.

As a result, it is split into three mini-schools - Towers, Lighthouses and Windmills - which help to give the children a sense of community and family; something they may not always have at home.

Ms Silvester said: "Each student sees just a few teachers in any one week, which leads to closer and more personal relationships, more personalised discipline procedures and greater self-esteem."

IT teacher James Charnock added: "My tutor group is a good example of this - they all eat together every lunchtime by choice and support each other.

"This is a classic example of the school being 100 per cent successful in what it set out to achieve five years ago.

"From a teaching perspective I feel privileged to be able to nurture such relationships and become an integral part of their lives."

Year 11 pupil Billy ***asked for surname not to be printed*** also spoke highly of his experiences at the school.

He said: "After my first year I was so at home - it is one big community.

"I admit I am not the best pupil but I have been treated so fairly and with so much respect that I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

This June will mark the end of the first five-year cycle at Bishops Park College, where pupils like Billy, who started at the school in year seven, will complete their GCSEs in year 11.

To celebrate, and to commemorate the two year anniversary in the Jaywick Lane building, the year 11 pupils will enjoy their first school prom on June 28.

Ms Silvester added: "Bishops Park College is an example of how a dynamic vision can inform every aspect of a school's life and design.

"People used to say they'd never send their kids here - now we are inundated."