THE principal at Knutsford’s Academy has said children won’t be forced into ‘9 til 5’ hours when its new Studio school opens in 2014.

It was announced in April that the Academy will be opening a £3 million ‘Studio’ school, which will offer pupils the chance to learn academic subjects through practical projects designed and delivered by employers.

The Studio will be an option open to students at 14 or 16, and will offer pupils – additional to academic GCSEs in English, maths and sciences – programmes relating to five employment pathways: computing, design-based industries, the broadcast media, sport and leisure and careers in the performing arts.

The courses will be delivered in partnership with national companies such as Deloitte, Barclays Bank and Microsoft.

Some parents have raised concerns about the number of hours pupils would be in the classroom.

This comes on the back of Education Secretary Michael Gove calling for longer school days and less holidays.

But Kevin Hollins, principal at Knutsford Academy, said the ‘9am until 5pm’ hours for children will only be for those attending the Studio school.

“It’s not compulsory for anybody to be in the Studio school, so every child will not be ‘nine to five’,” he said.

“We will be putting things on for children between 3pm and 5pm, but they will not be taking on these sessions every day.

“It will be a case of offering these programmes to the children, but many parents and children will decide that this will not be what they want to do.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from parents after announcing it.

“We’re going to be holding parents evening before the end of term for anyone who wants to know more about it.

“They will get a letter from me about it later this term.”

The planning application for the new school, to be located near the leisure centre, has been submitted to Cheshire East Council, and will be decided on by planners at the Northern Planning Committee on June 5.

n What do you think about the new school? Email yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk.