How to apply to open a Studio School

General article: Updated: 26 April 2012

Please note: The window for submitting an application to open a Studio School in 2013 has now closed.

Studio Schools are an innovative new model of educational provision, providing high quality, aspirational education for 14 to 19-year-olds, using project based learning to develop employability skills and prepare young people for work.

Studio Schools are new academies and typically have around 300 pupils. Students spend a significant portion of their week working with local employers (with over-16s paid a real wage) and all students have a personal coach to help tailor the curriculum to their individual needs. Students follow a broad and balanced curriculum designed to give them the employability skills and mainstream qualifications they need in work, or to progress to further or higher education.

The first two Studio Schools opened in September 2010, with another four opening in September 2011.

We want to ensure only the highest quality applications are approved. Therefore, the application system for groups that wish to open Studio Schools in September 2013 will have the following features:

All groups will provide information, as set out in the 'How to apply' guidance to a set deadline. This will require detailed responses to such questions as:
- demand from parents, employers and young people;
- the educational vision for the Studio School and how this will meet local and national skills needs;
- how the project based learning approach based on the CREATE framework will deliver mainstream qualifications and employability skills; and
- the capacity and capability of the proposing group to deliver a Studio School.
Groups will be judged against the published criteria and against each other and scored on the strength of their proposals.
Shortlisted applicants will be called for an interview to discuss aspects of their proposal. Interview panels will consist of Department for Education officials, education advisers, and financial and premises experts. Being called for interview does not indicate that an application will ultimately be successful.