I am often asked what it means to be a Technology College and hope that our Special Edition Newsletter (PDF 3.4Mb) goes a  long way to answering that question.  It was back in 2004 that we achieved Technology College status along with eight other secondary  schools which formed the Rural Academy of Cumbria. The status lasts for four years and following our successful Ofsted inspection in November 2008 and the submission of a new plan to the DCSF we were "redesignated" as Technology College in February 2009.

The additional funding that comes to us as a Technology College is used to benefit the students at AGS and our partner primary schools. We do this by purchasing new equipment, improving classroom facilities which the primaries can access, employing additional staff and engaging in the wider Specialist Schools network. The impact for the students is both enhanced provision and increased standards of achievement. Technology College status also has the greatest impact across the curriculum by bringing the latest technology to all subject areas.

The Rural Academy network continues to go from strength to strength with a range of joint activities every year that involve both students and staff.  In May 2009 the Rural Academy was asked by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT)  to produce a good practice guide that could be shared with other schools nationally.  We were then asked to give a presentation at the SSAT Annual Conference in Birmingham in November which attracts over 2000 delegates from the UK and across the world. Hopefully we put AG­S and Cumbria on the map!

From the start of this school year Mr Wright has taken on the role of Director of Specialism at AGS  (in addition to being Curriculum Leader of Science), working with staff across the specialist subjects of Design Technology, Science and Maths. In his new role Mr Wright will take forward our school and community plans for the next four years as a Specialist Technology College.

Andrew Lund, Headteacher
Appleby Grammar School, Battlebarrow, Appleby, Cumbria, CA16 6XU
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