Bedford school set to become Centre of Excellence

A Building project at Mark Rutherford School is set to become a Centre of Excellence by inspiring the next generation of highly skilled professionals

Mark Rutherford School is fast becoming a regional STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) hub. 

With financial support from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) through the Local Growth Fund, Bedford Borough Council and Central Government, the vision to build a STEAM centre of excellence is coming to Bedford.

The space will offer much needed specialist and general teaching spaces for mixed age groups of students, and will inspire young people in Bedfordshire to pursue STEAM subjects, growing the next generation of much needed engineers, technologists and scientists.

Mark Rutherford School is already the first school in Europe to own a portable planetarium, which is supported by the Harpur Trust, and now our aim is to build a STEAM Provision to include a Lecture Hall where we can develop the future workforce by embedding much needed employability skills from an early age. 

Headteacher Mr Millard said “This project is a great example of a successful collaborative approach that is steering investment directly towards developing the future of our young people.”

Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive at SEMLEP said, “Our area has major business strengths in innovative sectors that are going to change the way we live and work but we need many more young people with STEAM-related skills and knowledge to take up careers in these industries.

“Mark Rutherford School’s vision for this project is a great example of how we work together towards developing a talent-pipeline of young people with the attributes that meet local employers’ needs. This project can make a major contribution to our area’s future success and we are pleased to contribute to this project through our Local Growth Fund”

Mark Rutherford School is extremely fortunate to have secured this substantial amount of funding to deliver appropriate specialists teaching rooms. Cllr James Valentine, Executive member for Education at Bedford Borough Council said “Mark Rutherford School continues to provide excellent educational experiences and wonderful opportunities to the young people of Bedford Borough. The improved facilities will not only enrich the experiences for students, it will future proof employability skills for all students on roll.”

Funded through Local Growth Fund