Tyneside studio school creates 16 new jobs

Studio West, Tyneside’s pioneering new school for 13 to 19-year-olds, has announced it will create 16 new jobs when it opens in September.

The school, which will guarantee all students a place at university, an apprenticeship or a job, is recruiting learning coaches, personal coaches and administration staff as it prepares to bring project-based learning to the North East.

Learning coaches will guide and inspire pupils through their educational work and projects, while personal coaches will provide pastoral support to students.

The school, which will open on the site of All Saints’ College in West Denton, Newcastle, is holding a recruitment event on Thursday, March 20, at 6pm at Kenton School in Newcastle, to give prospective employees a chance to find out more about the school, which is one of just 13 studio schools in the UK.

Pioneering project-based learning in the North East, learning coaches will work with real-life employers to create and set assignments for students, as well as teaching core subjects in the classroom.

With an enterprise centre based on site, the school will operate business hours and will open 48 weeks a year, with staff able to take holidays more flexibly than in traditional education establishments.

The school is inspired by High Tech High, in San Diego, California, which has been successfully teaching students through project based learning for 15 years.

Val Wigham, principal designate of Studio West, said: “Our pioneering vision is to revolutionise the way we teach our young people and ensure they are properly prepared for work in a way which will enable them to smoothly transfer from the classroom to the workplace at whatever level the decide to enter employment.

“We are looking to recruit inspirational learning coaches who will encourage students to aspire and achieve the highest level in their chosen field or profession.

“By recruiting the highest calibre of learning coaches, personal coaches and support staff, we aim to create an environment which will nurture well-rounded, mature and confident individuals, who leave us fully ready for the workplace.

“Anyone who would be interested in working for Studio West can come along on our open event on Thursday, March 20, at 6pm, at Kenton School, to find out more.”