Official Education West Midlands Thread

[Biosonic]

More BCU news:

From Construction News:

Birmingham City University is inviting contractors to build a £7 million new sports centre.

Work will cover construction of a sports hall, fitness suite, aerobic/dance studios, a new full size external synthetic football pitch and a car park.

The contract would start in September 2008 and take 12 months.

Doesn't say where it is - Alexander Stadium?

[feltip]

From Today's Post.

Birmingham aiming to be a student city
Dec 10 2007

By Shahid Naqvi, Education Correspondent


A campaign to rebrand Birmingham as a university city to rival the great academic centres of the world is to be launched in the New Year.

The drive represents the next big image shift for the city, which, in the past 20 years has changed its emphasis from a manufacturing base to an international business centre.

Academic, business and marketing experts now believe the time is right to reposition Birmingham as a "magnet for youth" and centre of academic excellence. The new campaign will look to find what can be done to make the city more attractive for graduates.

It has the backing of the city's three universities and Birmingham City Council and is to be led by Marketing Birmingham, whose job is to promote the city's image.

Ian Taylor, commercial director at Marketing Birmingham, said: "We are going to have a focused campaign to help promote Birmingham as a magnet for youth and a city where people want to come and study because of the experience on offer.

"I would hope we will be in the position to make an announcement about this in the New Year, probably February. It will be about reinforcing our credentials as a fantastic place to be. The universities do a good job at attracting people to this area, but we need to do more to promote it on the strength of its lifestyle offer. It's culture. It's nightlife. Its music and sporting scenes.

"We need to do that to attract the best talent across the UK and beyond."

Birmingham has undergone a massive regeneration over the two decades that has seen it transform into a vibrant entertainment hub, rich in social and cultural experiences. But despite this, many outside the city still regard it as a grey, industrial and work-orientated city.

Earlier this year respected urban planner Professor Michael Parkinson delivered a 66-page study on Birmingham in which he claimed it was not doing enough to promote itself.


The city's universities have gone through major rebranding drives in recent years aimed at pitching themselves better in an increasingly commercial market.


Birmingham University spent more than £100,000 on its new image, the University of Central England forked out £200,000 to change its name to Birmingham City University and Aston University spent £65,000 on a new logo.


But Gary Hughes, area convenor for the National Union of Students, said the city council needed to do more to promote Birmingham's higher education credentials.


And the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce said more work needed to be done to make sure the city's student population was included.


"Students need to be embraced more into the city life," said spokesman John Lamb.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

[Biosonic]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...ds/7142061.stm

First Fame-style school planned

It will be based on the Brit School where Amy Winehouse attended
The first fully-selective arts academy will be built in Birmingham, ministers have revealed.
The Fame-style school in the city's Eastside will train students in music, theatre, painting and other arts.

It will be based on the renowned Brit School in Croydon, south London, which was attended by Amy Winehouse and Katie Melua.

The school, which will teach up to 950 pupils aged 14 to 19, is one of three academies planned in the city.

The West Midlands Eastside Arts Academy will be jointly sponsored by Birmingham City University and the Ormiston Trust, which works for underprivileged children.

It will be run in partnership with the BBC, the Brit School, Birmingham City Council and Maverick TV, the production company behind shows like 10 Years Younger and How To Look Good Naked.

[smysticed]

King Edward VI Foundation to sponsor city academy

Dec 13 2007



Birmingham's King Edward VI Foundation has revealed plans to sponsor one of the city's seven new business-backed academy schools.

The foundation, which includes the city's two top-performing King Edward independent schools and five grammars, is to submit an "expression of interest" in backing the academy to replace Sheldon Heath Community School.

However, it will not be providing the £2 million private money required under the academy rules towards creating the new school.

Instead, the Foundation and Birmingham City Council will look to businesses to stump up the cash towards the school rebuild.

Sponsors have already been found for five of the seven Birmingham schools earmarked to become academies.

Yesterday it was revealed that Birmingham charity Excell 3 had been dropped as a potential sponsor for the other remaining unsponsored school, College High in Erdington.

An announcement on College High and Sheldon Heath by Birmingham City Council is expected today.

David Holmes, a governor and spokesman for the King Edward VI Foundation, said: "The Foundation board wishes to take the first step on the road to sponsoring an academy at Sheldon Heath.

"This represents an exciting opportunity. Sheldon Heath has made significant progress in the last two years and there is a belief that the freedoms associated with academy status and the experience of the Foundation could assist the able leadership of Sheldon Heath to progress at an even faster pace and could strengthen the school in a number of areas."

Mr Holmes said clarification was being awaited on a number of "legal and technical issues".

He added: "The City of Birmingham and the Foundation hope that suitable financial investment can be found from the Birmingham business community to provide the additional academy trust fund of £2 million."

Earlier this year it was announced that Education charities Ark and Edutrust will sponsor two academies each - Ark taking Harborne Hill and St Albans CE, with Edutrust taking Heartlands High and Shenley Court - with a range of business partners.

A consortium led by the Black Country Richardson family is to sponsor Kings Norton High.

The academy programme has attracted controversy because it involves putting public assets in the hands of fee-paying sponsors who have influence over the curriculum. Critics claim it enables organisations with nothing to do with education to control schools.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

[feltip]

Originally Posted by Biosonic

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...ds/7142061.stm

Nice to see the BBC scaling back bits in Birmingham and saving money and yet supporting the fame school .

Good news though.

[feltip]

Don't think we have Muirhead Tower thread.
28 Days later crew been scaling it again. Nice views of city too.

http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/...ad.php?t=24572

http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb198/StaffsUE/

Photos courtessy of StaffsUE

[feltip]

Well Aston's new logo is on the redesigned website.

[Brummyboy92]

Will we be seeing any renders for the school of fame?

[feltip]

From the post. Excellent news for College of Food...

The race for Birmingham's fourth university
Jan 8 2008

By Shahid Naqvi


The race to create Birmingham's fourth university hotted up yesterday after another of the city's colleges gained degree-awarding powers.

The status means Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies can call itself a "university college" - a short step away from a full-blown university.

A rebranding and name change to University College Birmingham (UCB) accompanied the new designation.

Last autumn Newman College in Bartley Green was also granted university college status and pledged it would be the city's fourth university.

However, UCB's principal, Eddie McIntyre, claimed his institution would make the grade first, adding he expected it to happen within two years.

"You are only a university if you get approval from the Secretary of State," he said.


"The criteria is you have to have degree-awarding powers which we have and you have to have 4,000 or more higher education students doing degree courses.


"We have 3,500 - there will now be a push to get us over the 4,000. The next stage is to get an extra 500 students and then make an application to the Secretary of State to become Birmingham's fourth full-blown university."


Mr McIntyre added UCB's capacity to expand student numbers had been boosted following a £7.5 million deal to secure a new two-acre site.


The area on George Street in the Jewellery Quarter is a short way from the college's existing city central site in Summer Row.


"The existing site is full to capacity but this gives us considerable opportunity to expand," said Mr McIntyre.


"It is a real possibility now to get these 500 students. When we do we will put in an application to the Secretary of State to become a university."


UCB has built up a strong reputation for vocational courses, with its food and catering options particularly praised.


Although it has 8,300 students, more than half do not study at higher education level.


Last September, Newman College was granted the power to award degrees rather than having to link with another more established institution because of the strength of its courses.


The centre, which specialises in teacher training, currently has 3,000 students studying at degree level, though numbers are growing.


Announcing the new status, Newman College's principal Pamela Taylor said: "We would be delighted to be Birmingham's fourth university. It is something we will continue to work towards. At the moment we are in a position where demand for places outstrips provision."


A £15 million refurbishment programme has started at Newman which is set to transform the site, boosting its capacity to expand.


Birmingham's higher education sector is going through rapid transformation as part of a bid to rebrand it as a knowledge capital.


A couple of years ago Birmingham University spent more than £100,000 on its new image. Aston University spent £65,000 on a new logo and the University of Central England forked out £200,000 to change its name to Birmingham City University to more closely reflect its geographical location.


The College of Food's name change is also designed to underline its association with Birmingham.


Next month, Marketing Birmingham plans to launch a campaign backed by all the city's universities and the council to rebrand Birmingham as a university city to rival the great academic centres of the world.


Mr McIntyre said: "It is good for the city. It is very important to see Birmingham as a university city because it also brings in a large number of overseas students which is very good for the economy."


The student population has grown more than eight-fold in the last 25 years and Ofsted judged the institution "outstanding" in 2004 for its educational provision

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

[feltip]

Can't remember who was looking at Sutton Coldfield college but good news from them.

Financial Services Skills Academy in Sutton Coldfield College


Birmingham’s Sutton Coldfield College has been hailed as a major drive in the government’s initiative to plug the predicted future skills gap in the financial sector.

From now on Sutton Coldfield College, the lead provider for the National Skills Academy for Financial Services in the West Midlands, will ensure that people across the region are equipped with the desired skills to encourage rapid growth of the financial industry.

Through continuous training, the initiative will be a big boost to both employers and employees seeking work in this sector. It also aims to make young adults aware of their personal finance issues and culminate their interest in finance providing long-term career opportunities.

With Birmingham cited as one of the UK’s largest financial services centres, the National Skills Academy plans to introduce at least 6000 young adults, all between the age 16 and 19, to various innovative training courses in a bid to enhance their knowledge in personal and business finance.

It is believed that Sutton Coldfield College, which received an excellent OFSTED report last year, will soon become a part of the largest college in the UK, following its merger with that of Matthew Boulton, with students around 10,000.

http://www.fenews.co.uk/newsview.asp?n=2772

[feltip]

More news on the Birmingham Student city plans. 11 VCs getting together is impressive considering some of the personalities we have in the midlands universities

How Birmingham can be the university city
Jan 21 2008

By Shahid Naqvi, Education Correspondent


An ambitious bid to turn the West Midlands into the UK's number one student destination is to be launched today.

"Oxford and Cambridge are the past. We are the future." It's a bold statement from Professor Christine King but one that dramatically conveys the audacity of the West Midlands ambition to become the premier location for students.

A gathering of the region's 11 vice-chancellors will take place at Birmingham's Aston University today to launch the push.

Attended by Minister for the West Midlands Liam Byrne and the Government's Minister for Science and Innovation Ian Pearson, it marks the start of a major promotional campaign.

Spearheading the drive is the West Midlands Higher Education Association, a union of the region's university leaders united behind a common vision.

Prof King, the organisation's chair, believes the region is ready to challenge old perceptions of the country's university hotspots.

"We have such a rich diversity of higher education provision based across the whole of the West Midlands," she said

"What we offer is among the best in the world - and we are getting that message to a wider audience.


"This is the first time we are meeting with ministers to really discuss what potential there is for the West Midlands as a student and graduate area of opportunity."


Prof King, who is also vice-chancellor of Staffordshire University, said one of the main challenges was changing misconceptions of the region.


"There is clearly a publicity job to be done. We need to promote Birmingham nationally and internationally as a first city at the heart of the region," she said.


To put Birmingham and the wider region on par with the historic academic centres of Oxford and Cambridge would seem ridiculous to most people.


But Prof King claims that in the rapidlytransforming environment of higher education the region could lead the way in the sector.


"In the West Midlands we are ahead of the game," she said.


"We know the way students are studying is changing. Partly because of what they have to pay, they are more focused on employment now. You have more part-time students. You have more students using e-learning. Many live locally.


"Oxford and Cambridge are of the past. We are of the future. Who can do two terms of eight weeks? We have two-year degrees at Stafford where people work all through the year."


Next month, a separate campaign is to be launched in Birmingham to make it a "university city".


Led by Marketing Birmingham, whose job is to promote the city, it is backed by all three of the city's universities and the local authority.


Prof King said it was vital the region gained greater understanding of what students wanted and made sure they got it.


Part of that was putting in a student-friendly infrastructure to make the region more attractive to them, she said.


"As we regenerate the cities we are looking for a cafe culture," she said. "They want nice cafes and nice cinemas. If you look at regeneration across the region it is education-led.


"We should also be looking to build students into the economy. Maybe we could have some public enterprise schemes that allow students to run shops, businesses and cafes.


"A very simple thing would be to have a borrow-a-bike scheme where you pay something like a pound to hire a bike a bit like you do when you use a supermarket trolley.


"There are lots of gimmicks that we could do like that. We are looking for common understanding and an engagement working together."

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

[smysticed]

Cheers for that feltip.

Don't think this got mentioned in this thread, although it was in the Coventry one i think:

University expansion scheme is approved

Jan 18 2008

By Sinead Keller


A MASSIVE plan to expand Warwick University was given approval by Coventry planning chiefs yesterday.

They said the 10-year expansion scheme would make the university a world leader in teaching and research.

But they now have to wait for a decision by Warwick District Council which may oppose the £400 million project because it could lose large areas of green belt land south of Gibbet Hill Road.

Nearby residents are also fearful that surrounding roads in Canley and Westwood Heath, already heavily used, won't cope with extra traffic generated.

Under the 10-year expansion scheme, the university's built area would increase by 40 per cent, to include new teaching, research, sports and social blocks.

The expansion will allow for 4,500 extra staff and students to add to the current 20,000 student population.

Planning officers say the development could potentially create 2,000 new jobs locally as well as a further 3,300 in the West Midlands.

Councillor Kevin Maton, who represents Henley ward, said: "I hope that when Warwick District Council make their decision they think about the wider regional economy which depends on the expertise of Warwick University.

"This is not just a physical development of bricks and mortar, it is crucial for Coventry and the West Midlands."

The plan includes provision for road improvements, cycle routes, a new park-and-ride facility and improved public transport.

It would also include new on-site accommodation for students, to cut the number driving to campus from Warwick, Leamington and Coventry.

Councillor John McNicholas, who represents Lower Stoke, said: "Warwick is one of the most prestigious universities in the country and it is something Coventry can be proud of.

"I think we need to have in place a travel coordinator to oversee the green travel plan who will continue to work on it for a number of years.

"Warwick [university] want to work with the city council to make this work for the city of Coventry and we want to work with them - it is a win-win situation for everybody."

But the plan also controversially includes 80,000 sq m of development in nine hectares of green belt, most of which falls under Warwick District Council's care.

Planning officers also say the campus contains archaeological sites which would have to be protected, including an Iron Age settlement and the remains of a Roman villa and road. Conservation areas around the university include hedgerows and streams important for wildlife.

To compensate, plans have been put forward to re-landscape the area and put in new drainage features to support wildlife habitats.

The application will go before Warwick District Council planning committee on February 19.

Richard Brooker of Warwick District Council, said: "It is likely that it will be recommended by planning officers, but that is not to pre-judge the decision of the planning committee itself.

"If it is approved, it will then have to be referred to the secretary of state for communities and local government as it is a departure from green belt policy."

[feltip]

A Post article on BCU's eastside development. Plans are being developed by 'architects BDP, the firm behind the £530 million University Hospital Birmingham'.

£130m campus plan revealed
Jan 22 2008

By Shahid Naqvi


A deal has been signed to create a new university campus focusing on creative industries in the heart of Birmingham's Eastside in Digbeth.

Birmingham City University's £130 million complex will be spread over 37,000 sq metres and be a major component of the emerging learning and leisure quarter.

It will provide a base for the the university's respected Birmingham Conservatoire concert hall as well as becoming the focus of the university's creative and performing arts, technology and design and construction and media courses.

Design plans for the multi-million pound centre are currently being worked on by architects BDP, the firm behind the £530 million University Hospital Birmingham.

BCU has signed an agreement to acquire a 4.1-acre site from Birmingham City Council to build the new campus.

BCU's vice chancellor Professor David Tidmarsh said: "This is a very significant development for Birmingham City University and is a major plank in the achievement of our plans to grow the university by 50 per cent over the next ten years."


The university's Skillset Media Academy will also be located in the new centre.

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html

[Biosonic]

Great news - BDP's new offices in Manchester look great and they were designed by them too!

They also did the Piccadilly Station renovation in Manchester

They have a Brum office on Colmroe Row though

I wonder whether they could use Curzon St Stn and stick a concert hall on the back?

To give an idea of size, 1 Snowhill is about 20 000 sq m, and bearing in mind it is unlikely they will build that tall, we could be looking at 4 buildings 6 storeys high but with the same fottprint

[mk61]

BCU's new logo in full display.

JQ



TIC

[Erebus555]

Birmingham City Council press release.

Blakesley Hall open a school built for the future
20 February 2008

The entire school community at Blakesley Hall Primary in Stechford are celebrating the near completion of phase one of a £4.5m new school building, and for some lucky pupils they got a sneak preview of their new home.

Due for completion, including landscaping, by February 2009, the Yardley Green Road based school will provide a modern, stimulating and inspiring environment for teaching and learning, according to headteacher Heather Phillips, only the school's fifth head in its 50 year history.

Heather said: “Children, teachers, parents and governors have been looking forward to this moment. The new school means so much to the whole school community, as we will be able to teach and learn in superb surroundings, in buildings that are designed to be conducive to learning, giving all our children an environment of which they can be proud and in which they can succeed.”

Along with serving the entire community the new site will include improved outdoor play space, fixed play equipment and a sports court, to be used by its 620 pupils. A total of 5,000 cubic metres of earth was removed to make way for the new building, which now contains 170 tonnes of steel and 650 square metres of glazing.

Councillor Les Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "Blakesley Hall Primary does a fantastic job serving the local community, and in turn deserves a 21st century building and 21st century facilities that can be utilised by pupils, staff and members of the community alike. It is a significant moment in the history of this school, and I look to see this building provide a lot of happy memories for pupils for generations to come."

Anita Brown, chair of governors, added: “This is a very exciting event for everyone involved with Blakesley Hall Primary School. While we still have a few months to go before the building is complete, we can’t wait to get into phase one of the building and start to enjoy using our new ‘state of the art’ school.

“It’s just what the children and staff deserve and should also become a real attribute in the local community.”

Since the school opened in 1959 it is estimated that there have been 9,900 days of teaching at Blakesley Hall Primary. Memorable moments from the past include pupils witnessing the first Concorde fly over the school and also sighting the Discovery space shuttle.

To commemorate the new building local historian Dr Carl Chinn will broadcast from the school and a special tree planting ceremony will take place in March (2008).

[NeilM]

Warwick helping industry.

New ideas get a push from project group at university - Feb 21 2008

An initiative from Warwick Manufacturing Group at Warwick University is helping small businesses across the region launch innovative new products.

Innovation-Direct.com gives small manufacturing businesses an opportunity to bring these to the marketplace and it is now expanding its expertise to start-ups and inventors.

In the past help has been given to launch a wide range of innovative products, from a new variable gas valve to a redesigned guard for bunions and the improved design of Soccer Buddy International's football mannequins - which are now being brought by Premier League football clubs.

Brian Miles, programme director of Innovation-Direct.com and his team, have invited start-up businesses and inventors to come forward and receive the help to take their ideas to another level.

Mr Miles said: "We know that many small businesses, sole traders and inventors have genuine hopes for their projects to be a success but sometimes there is a reticence among some of them to come forward and put their products under the spotlight."


Innovation-Direct.com is keen to make contact with start-up businesses and inventors clubs across the West Midlands as well as business organisations, especially those which serve specific ethnic communities who are likely to have members pondering the next stage of development for their project.


Those who go ahead will not be required to produce their chequebooks when they see Innovation-Direct.com experts as advice is free.


Steve Whitmore, of Coventry, is one of those who received help. He designed and produced a special trailer for mobility scooters after listening to his wife.


His Freedom Trailer project emerged in a hut in the back garden after his wife Zelda's shopping bag became entangled around the starter switch of her mobility scooter, accidentally turning on the electric motor and sending the scooter off without a driver across a busy road at the Royal Show Ground at Stoneleigh.


This unexpected event set him thinking about a solution to the problem and after taking his thoughts to Innovation-Direct.com they helped him find some answers.


Another to receive help has been Steve Crutchley, managing director of Peerless Gas Controls. He wondered why gas fire control regulators only had three positions - low, medium and high. He decided to do something about it and came up with an infinitely variable valve.


Innovation-Direct.com took his existing valve apart and reduced its working parts from 20 to five and in doing so, made a creative leap in performance over valves already on the market.


The new device has won two major awards in its sector, New Control of The Year and Best Supporting Product of the Year.


The valve was recently given safety approval by Advantica, which is the safety organisation for the British gas industry.

[feltip]

From the Official Supplement to the Journal of the European Union.

Tender for Sutton Coldfield College.

UK-Birmingham: construction work for buildings of further education

2008/S 43-059380

CONTRACT NOTICE

Works

Short description of the contract or purchase(s):
Design and construction of new further Education College Campus providing accommodation for the delivery of teaching and learning, offices for academic and support staff and ancillary facilities and external works

Total quantity or scope:
The gross internal floor area is approximately 21 000 square metres.
Estimated value excluding VAT: 40 000 000 GBP

DURATION OF THE CONTRACT OR TIME-LIMIT FOR COMPLETION:
Starting: 1.10.2008. Completion: 31.8.2010

http://ted.europa.eu/Exec?DataFlow=S...08&StatLang=EN

[Erebus555]

Blimey, how much money does Sutton College want to spend? As far as I'm aware, they recently built a new block and are in the process of completing another one on their Sutton campus. Any idea where this other block will be?

[feltip]

Couldn't find a location on the tender.