Barclays to offer expertise to Studio Schools
From the DfE Website: http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00202114/michael-gove-welcomes-commitment-from-barclays-to-academies-and-free-schools
Education Secretary Michael Gove today welcomed a commitment from Barclays to offer their expertise and support to schools across England.
In particular, Barclays will target much of its support at Academies, Free Schools, University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and Studio Schools. These independent, state-funded schools are free from local authority control, making external expertise on issues like finance and HR invaluable.
Speaking at Westminster Academy, Michael Gove also invited other firms to look at ways of making serious commitments to schools.
Under the scheme, Barclays will:
- encourage hundreds of senior staff members with transferable business skills to sit on the governing bodies of state-funded schools – including Academies and Free Schools;
- provide local access to free financial advice to help Academies and Free Schools to manage their new financial duties;
- offer structured work experience opportunities at Barclays branches and offices to pupils from Academies and Free Schools;
- widen the Barclays Money Skills programme, which helps young people build the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to manage money more effectively;
- provide free online access for school staff to ‘self-service’ functional and business skills training materials;
- provide free banking to new Free Schools and Academies, helping them get off the ground; and
- work with the New Schools Network, Baker Dearing Trust and Studio Schools Trust with the aim of offering funding of £5,000, on average, to selected Free School, UTC and Studio School groups in the pre-application stage.
Education Secretary Michael Gove said:
I’m delighted that Barclays has read the new educational landscape so clearly and decided to make a real difference. Thanks to this comprehensive and generous package, students, teachers and governors will benefit enormously.
Since the sixteenth century, when the first City livery companies opened schools, we have seen huge benefits when schools and businesses work together. I want a new generation of businesses to do the same in our changing schools system.
Our reforms to give schools more independence have created great opportunities for businesses and charities to make a lasting commitment to help.
Antony Jenkins, Chief Executive of Barclays Retail and Business Banking, said:
Barclays is supporting Free Schools and Academies because we want to boost financial skills for young people. By providing financial awareness training and valuable work experience we can help young people to contribute to and share in future prosperity.
We can also make a positive impact to these schools by encouraging our employees to serve as governors, and by lending our banking expertise to school boards.
For further information please contact the Studio Schools Trust, and see http://www.barclays.co.uk/SupportingBritainsFreeSchoolsAcademies/P1242599887777
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