Elements Academy, built on the former Dinnington College site, enjoyed a grand opening attended by The Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Tajamal Khan.
The only one of its kind in the borough, Elements Academy, part of Ethos Academy Trust, will meet the growing need for specialist provision in the area and provide the opportunity for children with social, emotional and mental health needs to flourish academically and personally.
The suggestion of ‘Elements’ for the name of the new school first came from students and staff at the Rowan Centre, to recognise the mining history of the site as well as the different qualities that the school will bring together to support young people.
The Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Tajamal Khan, keen to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of Rotherham’s local communities, cut the ribbon and revealed a plaque to celebrate the grand opening of this unique school. This was followed by a fantastic food service led by Elements Academy students, displaying their skills and professionalism as they showcased their new surroundings. He was greeted by a dedicated staff team of Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) professionals, unwavering in their belief that all students that attend Elements will overcome any barriers and acquire the knowledge, skills and resilience necessary to lead fulfilling lives.
Jayne Foster, CEO of Ethos Academy Trust, commented, ‘The development of Elements Academy has been an extremely exciting project for Ethos Academy Trust over the last 18 months. As a Trust, we specialise in the development of high quality, nurturing provisions to enable a broad range of pupils with SEMH needs to thrive and succeed. The staff team at Elements Academy are extremely skilled at supporting the needs of the pupils. They have created a welcoming and nurturing learning community, in which pupils feel safe and empowered to develop the skills and knowledge they need to be happy and successful within and beyond school.’
This partnership between Ethos Academy Trust and Rotherham Council has resulted in a thriving school committed to creating an ambitious, nurturing and inclusive learning environment that strikes that all important balance of support and suitable challenge for all 135 of its students. The students, aged 7-16 years old, all have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and previously attended other educational settings across the borough.
Rotherham Council has worked in close partnership with Ethos Academy Trustto bring the relevant expertise together to provide the highest quality education and care for children with special educational needs and their families, as well as meet increasing demand for specialist provision in the area.
Councillor Victoria Cusworth, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We are extremely proud of the fantastic new specialist education that Elements Academy is providing to local children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.
“Rotherham Council has invested around £3m to create Elements Academy, which means local children can access bespoke provision which meets their needs here in Rotherham for the first time. It also means that we’ve been able to keep a really important community asset in Dinnington open – and that the former college could continue as an educational establishment, which it has been for nearly 100 years.
“Our ambition is for every child in Rotherham to be able to fulfil their potential and the opening of Elements Academy, alongside the creation of new provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities across the borough, will play an important role in helping us to deliver on that aim.”
To find out more about Elements academy you can visit the school website and for the opening ceremony, here is a short video documenting the event from the Council's YouTube Channel.