Schools and colleges in the Greater Grimsby area have excellent relationships with local employers, something which helps to provide a supply of people with the right skills. One of the most innovative schools is the Havelock academy in Grimsby established in 2007.
With schools in the spotlight this month with GCSE and A’Level results, Havelock has hit the headlines as it is set to pioneer the move away from A’Levels to the widely recognised international baccalaureate (IB).
Havelock has been chosen to trial the aspects of the IB. The IB system will feature innovations such as Dutch and Swedish – which The Guardian newspaper in a feature on the academy recently pointed out - were “languages familiar on lorries heading up and down the M180 to the port”.
Havelock has been authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, having been granted IB World School status in March 2010. The prestigious IB Diploma Programme, along with the new IB Career-related Certificate, will be offered to students when they enter the Sixth Form in September 2011. The considerable advantages of the IB programmes are well recognised by employers and universities both here in the UK and around the world.
Havelock's system of houses, all named after famous Grimsby trawlers, encourages intensive mentoring of pupils which leads teachers to a good notion of where they will succeed.
A brand new £20 million site for the school is under-way, and the Grimsby-born entrepreneur, David Ross, whose foundation established the school in 2007, was present as work began in March 2010. He said: “It's a great day for the school and a great day for Grimsby.”
Link: www.havelockacademy.co.uk