Pupils have made history by becoming the first to attend a new school that will eventually move to Fernwood.

The 53 pupils who attend The Suthers School are, for now, travelling to its temporary home in Bingham, but eventually will move with the school to its permanent home at Fernwood Business Park.

It will then become the third secondary school in Newark, alongside Magnus Church of England Academy and Newark Academy.

The Suthers School is part of the Nova Education Trust, formerly the Torch Academy Gateway Trust, which is also responsible for Bingham’s Toot Hill School and Newark Academy.

It is based temporarily at the Toot Hill campus until its Fernwood site is built. Plans are being drawn up and it is scheduled to open in September, 2019.

The Bingham site has capacity to take 90 pupils next year and the school could take 120 pupils each year thereafter as it grows to full capacity.

The Suthers School — named after late Toot Hill School governor Mr Martin Suthers — is temporarily based in a building formerly used as Bingham Young People’s Centre.

The school has six classrooms across two floors.

Pupils have their own area in the canteen, known as The Curve Restaurant, at the adjacent Toot Hill College where they can order meals from a menu.

The school has classrooms for maths, English, French and science.

Five teachers work at the school, including head of school Mr Andrew Pettit, who teaches English and maths.

Emmanuelle Scott is the special educational needs co-ordinator, and teaches French and history; Vicky Barker teaches English; Marie Paskin teaches science and Lubna Din teaches art.

Other subjects are taught by teachers who also teach at Toot Hill School. The Suthers School also employs a manager, Jo Braithwaite.

In lessons, each pupil has access to a Chromebook — a type of lightweight laptop that provides internet access and enables them to save their work at school and access it on another device at home.

Pupils have an extended school day, with an extra hour in which they can study, do homework and do extra-curricular activities.

The school has 16 student ambassadors, who represent the school at public events and help make decisions about its future.

Pupils have access to facilities at the adjacent Bingham Leisure Centre, including the pool, where they spend two-hour sessions on a weekly basis.

As well as learning how to swim or improving their technique, pupils are also working towards a lifeguard qualification.

Extra hour at school

Mr Pettit said despite the school’s small size, he wanted to give pupils the same experience they would have at a fully-established school.

Mr Pettit said: “They are getting used to moving around the school to get to different classrooms to different subjects rather than staying in one classroom, because with a small cohort, we could say 'you stay in the same classroom'.”

Pupils spend an extra hour at school every day for enrichment opportunities, which could be an opportunity to do homework with the supervision of a teacher, or an activity they enjoy.

During the first half-term pupils had extra study time in which they learnt the basics of how to study effectively, including diet and sleeping patterns.

Mr Pettit said: “We have an opportunity to make the best start possible with a new school and there is a whole range of things that have been happening in the first term that we haven’t necessarily been able to shout about, such as the extended curriculum, the longer school day and the fact that students have guaranteed access to enrichment opportunities.

“That puts us ahead of schools that are restricted by the traditional school day because we are able to provide guaranteed access to enrichment opportunities.”

Mr Pettit said it was important to build his pupils’ character as well as developing their education during their time at the school.

“As a head and as a school we are determined that character education should be offered alongside traditional education,” he said.

Mr Pettit said the school would develop a character education programme similar to those offered by schools in America, which are part of the Knowledge Is Power Programme (KIPP).

He said that longer-term, the school had plans to teach Mandarin Chinese and link with schools in China to offer exchange programmes.

Mr Pettit said he wanted his pupils to be aware of the inequalities that existed in the world.

“We are determined that they see themselves as global citizens, but they are also the leaders of tomorrow, who will make a change and make a difference,” he said.

Parents who want to apply for a place for their child for the 2018-19 academic year have until December 1 to make a late application.

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Pupils settling well, despite longer days

Parents whose children are pupils have been full of praise for The Suthers School after a successful first half-term.

Mrs Rachel Bradey, of Averham, chose to send her son, Thomas, 11, there after he previously attended Manners Sutton Primary School — one of the smallest schools in the Newark area.

Mrs Bradey said: “Thomas went from a small school in Averham — him and two others went. He seems happy and to have settled in well.
He has made some new friends and is not getting bombarded with homework.”

Mrs Bradey said the other schools they considered were Toot Hill in Bingham and the Sir William Robertson Academy in Welbourn.

“We were holding out for this one (Suthers) to be open in time because we have moved to (the) Newark (area) and we had to factor in the cost of getting him there (to another school) and getting a bus out of the county,” Mrs Bradey said.

She said The Suthers School had been very accommodating in offering to pick up her son.

“The school was fantastic from the beginning and when they were setting out their bus route in the early days they were saying they would pick up all the children from the applications they had.

“Now they pick him up from outside his old primary school.”

'I have got high hopes'

The longer school day and a long commute to The Suthers School means a long day for Thomas.

He is out of the house from around 7.15am until 6.15pm, but his mother said it didn’t faze him.

Mrs Bradey said: “He copes with the mornings fine and plays with his mates in the evening.

“I have got high hopes because they clearly know what they are doing.

“They seem to have a good system that gets results and I hope it all comes good for him.”

Mr Jason Harrison’s son, Codey, moved to The Suthers School from Chuter Ede Primary School, Balderton.

He said Codey was enjoying life at his new school, despite the long days.

“The school has been terrific and kept us informed really well and all they promised us has come to fruition,” Mr Harrison said

“Codey thinks it is great. He thinks the whole school is great. Because there’s only so many of them he feels a bit more like he is going to develop at that school.

“They (the staff) are friendly, and when I went to the open day they were really energetic.

“My wife and I got a good feel for the school and the enrichment time, where they stay at school and put on activities, is good.

“Codey has got a sense of belonging.

“He is not finding the travelling all that bad and when they move to Fernwood that will be even better.

“The head is fantastic. He is charismatic, good with the pupils and good with parents.”

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