Originally published 31 July 2002

On Thursday 1st August 2002 at 11am, David Miliband, the School Standards Minister, is visiting the first of a series of new summer schools at the University of Warwick designed to encourage and support some of England’s brightest young people.

The National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, part of the University of Warwick, is running a pilot Summer School for 100 students aged 11-16 from across England on the University of Warwick’s Westwood campus in Coventry from Monday 22nd July – Friday 9th August.

The Academy is intended to develop, implement, promote and support educational opportunities for gifted and talented children and young people aged up to 19, as well as providing support for parents and educators. It will also provide a nationally and internationally recognised centre from which to develop and deliver gifted and talented education in England in support of Government policy. This first pilot summer school for 100 students will be followed next year by summer schools for 900 pupils at five centres across England. The Minister said:

“I’d like to thank the University of Warwick for preparing such an exciting programme for their summer school, which I’m sure will have a profound impact on all those taking part. It is vital that each pupil’s school now works closely with the Academy to make sure their experience is integrated into their everyday learning, and isn’t just a one-off.”

The University of Warwick is supported in the operation of the academy by two core partners – The Johns Hopkins University “Center for Talented Youth” in the US, and the Research Centre for Able Pupils at Oxford Brookes University. Professor David VandeLinde, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, said:

“The University of Warwick is delighted to be helping to deliver the Government’s vision for England’s
Gifted and Talented Youth. In my years at Johns Hopkins University, I was privileged to witness the growth and development of a similar programme and to see what a difference it made to the lives of so many young people. I therefore retain a strong personal commitment to the creation of similar opportunities for gifted and talented youth in this country.”

The Visit of the Minister will proceed as follows:

• 11am Photo call with Minister and children from one of the summer school classes. The children will demonstrate some simple colourful robots they constructed during an evening activity
• 11.20 Interview opportunities with Minister, the University of Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor Professor David VandeLinde, some of the children attending the Academy and Academy Tutors
• 12.20 End of press opportunity

Parking: Press should aim for car park 14 on the University of Warwick’s Westwood campus. Aim to arrive in the car park at 10.30am and no later than 10.45. Follow the directions of the security staff at the car park.

For further information please contact:

• Peter Dunn,
  Press Officer,
  University of Warwick
  Tel: 024 76 523708
  email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
  Out of hours: 07767 655860
• Fiona Champness,
  Press Officer
  National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
  University of Warwick
  Tel: 07876 217745
• Steve Farance
  DFES
  0207 925 5101

Pr86 1st August 2002