Six Sunderland schools join new fellowship to overcome challenges

A pupil who is urging people to visit his suburb before “casting judgement”, says a new scheme will show his community is ready for a new start.

Salah, who is in Year 10 at Academy 360 in Pennywell, Sunderland, is among about 2,000 pupils who will benefit from the scheme, education bosses said.

The Pennywell Fellowship, made up of six schools and believed to be one of the “first of its kind” in England, will share resources to create links with employers, improve school-parent relationships and boost attendance.

The scheme is being developed in an area where support systems have been “steadily eroded” by cuts. The government has welcomed the plan.

It is hoped the project, which includes Christ’s College, St Anne’s Primary, North View, South Hylton and Highfield Academies, could be used as a blueprint for other schools across the country.

Salah, who hopes to become a doctor, said there was a perception that Pennywell was deprived.

“But I’ll tell these people come and live in Pennywell, see how it is and then cast your judgement,” he said.

“It’s a very nice place, the people are nice, everything is chill and and it’s a good community.”

The fellowship said that “low school attendance” was undermining learning, while “too many young people” were leaving school without support to find jobs.

Julie Normanton, principal at Christ College, said schools had been “competing against each other”, despite wanting the same positive outcomes, and that the scheme would bring them together helping all six improve.

“Traditionally there is a temptation with schools to work very much in isolation.

“[They] see local schools as competitors, because we’re competing to get the numbers through the doors, competing to get the best results.

“But actually we are all trying to do the same thing and make lives better for the children – our teachers are very excited.”

Parents in the area “want the very, very best for their young people but they can’t always access it in a way other families can” said Sally Newton, chief executive of The Laidlaw Schools Trust.

She said she hoped that would change through the new partnership.

Salah said he was looking forward to “being helpful” and doing “something that contributes to society, people and the future”.