Local Education Partnership

What is a Local Education Partnership or LEP?

An LEP is a public private partnership between a local authority (LA), Partnerships for Schools and a private sector partner selected in open competition under European Union procurement rules. It is a joint venture company focused on delivering BSF investment and charged with making every aspect of the planned school improvements a reality.

How was the Newcastle LEP set up?

The Newcastle LEP was set up and established in 2007, in the first instance, to deliver 16 new build, refurbished or remodelled schools over two phases. The partnership with the local authority, LEP (Aura) and the Partnering Service Providers (PSPs) has been very successful.

How does Newcastle LEP work with its educational stakeholders?

Working with the educational stakeholders across the city, the LEP has produced new schools facilities, high tech environments and methodologies in teaching practice to create personalised learning. For example, the change in the ICT service for each of the schools is significant, giving students the ability to choose how, where and what to access as part of their personalised learning programme.

Parents, teachers and students can access school resources through a secure web portal, allowing students to submit and retrieve work online from home or any location they choose. Similarly, to support the delivery of the curriculum, the LEP has worked with each of the secondary schools to develop a range of innovative transformation programmes including mentoring and life skills courses, to support Key Stage 2 learning. These activities help build trust and friendship between the students and the teaching staff.

Partnerships for Schools Newcastle LEP case study

Who are the key contacts for the Newcastle LEP?

Newcastle City Council (Children's Services): Michael Quincey, Senior Adviser, Children's Services, Newcastle City Council, Civic Centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8PU. Email: michael.quincey@newcastle.gov.uk

Aura Consortium: Kirsty Thirlwell, Chief Executive, Aura Newcastle Ltd. Local Education Partnership, Amber Court, William Armstrong Drive, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 7YQ, Email: Marisa.nethercott@aura-lc.com

What do the new Newcastle schools look like?

The Aura LEP website has some exciting and interesting casestudies of several Newcastle Schools such as Kenton School, Walbottle Campus and West Jesmond Primary School.

For more information about Aura log onto their website