Ian Livingstone is opening two schools

Industry veteran Ian Livingstone is opening two academies in Tower Hamlets and Bournemouth.

The Livingstone Academies will provide 3,000 students a ‘rigorous education’ based in the STEAM subjects. That’s science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.

These institutions will be opening under the Aspirations Academy Trust. As a part of the curriculum, students will have Dragon’s Den-style competitions, as well as running mock companies.

Livingstone’s two academies are part of 22 new schools announced today.

This follows Livingstone’s work in getting computing and coding onto the national curriculum.

The arts and sciences should no longer be a question of either or – and to further this I’m delighted to be opening two free schools to embed digital creativity in future generations of our society,” Livingstone said.

It is the combination of computer programming skills and creativity by which today’s world changing companies are built. I encourage other digital entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity offered by the Free Schools programme in helping to give children an authentic education for the jobs and opportunities of the digital world.”

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan added: Free schools are offering a rigorous education in communities which have never before had the opportunity of a good local school. Parents are flocking to them in their droves – and today’s announcement means that over 18,000 more children can benefit from a place in a free school.

With leading entrepreneur Ian Livingstone stepping up to open two schools, the free schools programme is proving to be a vital outlet for our society’s most creative and innovative people to spread their excellence to future generations.”