THE first Church of England secondary school in Derby is set to open in September 2018, with plans to “exploit the natural links between music and mathematics”.
Admissions for Derby Cathedral School will open in September this year, and offers will be made on 1 March 2018.
For the first two years, it will operate in temporary accommodation, while “state-of-the-art facilities” are developed on a permanent site that is yet to be named.
The school, which will be a co-education Free School, is a joint venture between the diocese of Derby and Derby Cathedral, and will be entirely funded by the Department for Education. The Secretary of State for Education agreed last year that the application should proceed to the “pre-opening phase”. The next stage entails securing a funding agreement.
The school’s website speaks of plans to “exploit the natural links between music and mathematics to raise achievement for all learners, encourage self-confidence and support cognitive development”. In the sixth form, there will be a “natural focus” on these two subjects.
There are no places at the school allocated on the basis of musical aptitude, but a spokeswoman confirmed that “the close partnership with the cathedral will mean that there are opportunities for students to be involved in the choir if they wish to do so.”
For the first two years, the school will be housed at Midland House, a Victorian building converted into offices, next to Derby station.
The CEO of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust, David Channon, said that a search for an “exceptional and inspirational leader” was under way. The schools facilities would be “shared with the community”, he confirmed.
The diocese and cathedral partnership reports that some secondary schools in the area are filled to capacity. It was initially envisaged that the school would take 120 pupils in the first year, but this has been increased to meet expected demand. In the first year, 180 places will be available, across six Year 7 classes.