In the news
Darwen Academy project near journey’s end
Publication: The Lancashire Telegraph
5 March 2010
The Darwen Aldridge Community Academy is on schedule to open in September as the construction workers begin adding the final touches to the building which has incorporated a bridge into its design.
The ambitious US schools that influence Tory policy
Publication: Children and Young People Now
19 January 2010
Charter schools are independent education providers, which receive public money to educate children in disadvantaged areas. There are clear parallels between these schools and the UK's academies programme. But, as teachers and pupils from Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in Lancashire discovered on a visit to New York, their approach is very different.
Children must be taught about finance in the classroom
Publication: The Argus
22 December 2009
Rod Aldridge, the sponsor of the Falmer Academy in Brighton, talks to Emily-Ann Elliott about the importance of learning about finance in the classroom.
Entrepreneurship can solve youth unemployment, says Rod Aldridge
Publication: Management Today
27 November 2009
Teaching entrepreneurship may be the answer to the UK's economic woes, reckons the Capita founder.
Business studies can make entrepreneurs of deprived children
Publication: TES
13 November 2009
Teaching business at school is the best way to encourage disadvantaged pupils to become entrepreneurs, according to a new report.
Entrepreneurs driven by hardship, not hard cash
Publication: Management Today
3 November 2009
Personal adversity is what motivates many entrepreneurs to build successful companies, an Aldridge Foundation report says.
Falmer Academy Open Day Gives a Glimpse of the Future
Publication: The Argus
4 October 2009
Parents and students were given a glimpse of the future Falmer Academy at an open evening held on Thursday 1st October.
How to ensure a healthy outlook
Publication: The Municipal Journal
6 August 2009
Amanda Ludlow's, Head of business development at Benenden Healthcare, response to Rod Aldridge’s opinion on public sector absenteeism (Plugged in, The MJ, 30 July).
The can-do crusader
Publication: The Guardian
5 August 2009
Rod Aldridge, 11-plus failure turned business success and academy benefactor, tells Alison Benjamin why he is dedicated to helping disadvantaged young people fulfil their potential – and how entrepreneurship drives social mobility.
Ballroom for 'better behaviour'
Publication: The Daily Mirror
23 June 2009
Ballroom dancing is helping to get children interested in exercise and is improving their classroom behaviour, a study has found.
Ballroom dancing to be taught in schools
Publication: The Independent
22 June 2009
It's Latin, Julius, but not as we knew it. Latin will make a comeback from today in all state schools, but it will be in the shape of dance lessons rather than the classics.
Ballroom dancing 'helps pupils' behaviour and motivates children to exercise'
Publication: The Daily Telegraph
22 June 2009
An evaluation of a national dancing initiative backed by professionals Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova from the television programme Strictly Come Dancing found that children's attitudes to exercise changed as a result of introducing dance to PE lessons.
Images of proposed new Brighton school go on show
Publication: The Argus
22 June 2009
Artist's impressions of how the replacement for Falmer High School, off Lewes Road, Brighton, will be on show in the school's south building from 6pm to 8pm.
Dance Fever
Publication: Times Educational Supplement
19 June 2009
School ballroom dancing schemes can boost pupils' fitness, social skills and behaviour, a report out next week will reveal.
Artist's impressions of Darwen Academy unveiled
Publication: Lancashire Telegraph
23 April 2009
Principal Brendan Loughran said: “Construction work at Redearth is progressing well, significant progress has been made and the building is really starting to take shape.
An enterprising education
Publication: Education Business
3 March 2009
Brendan Loughran, Principal at the Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, talks about the challenges of starting an academy and how the academy tackles educational issues.
Strictly Come Learning
Publication: Sunday Express
1 March 2009
Pack up the PlayStation, say bye-bye to burgers and shun the sofa. Children of today, your grandparents are suddenly trendy, because ballroom dancing is back and it’s the new way to get fit. After six series of the immensely popular Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1, the dance extravaganza is now heading to your school, as Hilary Douglas discovers...
Strictly Come Dancing Stars Launch Dancing Project for Schools
Publication: Community Newswire
24 February 2009
Bromley school children today got the chance to practice their ballroom and Latin dance skills with Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova from the BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing show.
Strictly stars show Kent kids their moves
Publication: www.kentnews.co.uk
24 February 2009
Stars from the popular show Strictly Come Dancing have come to Kent to launch a scheme to bring ballroom and Latin moves into school PE lessons.
Schools take on ballroom dancing
Publication: BBC
24 February 2009
Watch the BBC television coverage of the Essentially Dance launch
Strictly stars get kids dancing
Publication: CBBC
24 February 2009
Watch the CBBC coverage of the launch of Essentially Dance
Dancing steps up pupils' fitness
Publication: BBC Online
24 February 2009
Dancing is taking centre stage in a government scheme to help get schoolchildren fit.
Dance scheme launched in Brighton schools
Publication: ATL Education News
24 February 2009
Strictly Come Dancing's Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova are teaching 300 children aged between five and 16 some ballroom basics, to launch an initiative funded by the Aldridge Foundation.
From the classroom to the ballroom
Publication: Education Plus
24 February 2009
Ed Balls, the Children, Schools, and Families Secretary, has welcomed a pilot scheme launched today to bring ballroom and Latin dance into school PE lessons.
Strictly Come Dancing comes ... to school
Publication: The Independent
23 February 2009
Pupils to be taught ballroom dancing as Government turns to TV show to beat childhood obesity
Strictly improved behaviour is a winner
Publication: Times Education Supplement
20 February 2009
Ballroom dance pilot proves a glittering success, encouraging social skills and teamwork
Children to Get Dancing
Publication: Education Executive
18 February 2009
Scheme to harness popularity of TV dancing shows in schools
Dancing stars help pupils get fit
Publication: Meltwater Media
10 February 2009
Two Strictly Come Dancing stars are to help children to waltz, jive and cha cha cha their way to better health, it has been announced.
Strictly Come Dancing stars jive back to school
Publication: The Sheffield Telegraph
2 February 2009
STRICTLY Come Dancing stars Darren Bennett and wife Lilia Kopylova have waltzed with movie stars, pop legends and sporting icons - but their latest dance partners are these South Yorkshire kids!
Children learn to cha-cha-cha instead of chow-chow-chow
Publication: The Guardian
23 January 2009
Strictly stars join fight against obesity by teaching pupils to dance
Strictly Come Dancing stars' tips for Darwen pupils
Publication: Lancashire Telegraph
22 January 2009
TWO hundred children from Darwen learnt some new moves today when they met stars from the Strictly Come Dancing television show.
Strictly Come Dancing stars teach Salford pupils
Publication: Salford Online
19 January 2009
Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova will lead the launch of a pilot for a new schools’ initiative for ballroom and Latin American dance, Essentially Dance.
Just because you're born in certain circumstances you shouldn't have to be stuck with that
Publication: Public Servant
14 January 2009
With social mobility in the spotlight, Rod Aldridge tells David Allaby why he's still working so hard at breaking down business and social barriers.
Disharmony over Royal Opera’s plan to go north
Publication: The Guardian
28 October 2008
A proposal drawn up by Manchester city council and the Royal Opera House - to be presented to the culture secretary, Andy Burnham, this week - suggests that the Palace Theatre in the city centre undergo a £100m refurbishment to transform it into a first-class home for lyric theatre and ballet.
Academy sponsor pledges to lift Darwen pupils' aspirations
Publication: The Lancashire Telegraph
16 October 2008
The man who has put his name and money into the Darwen academy has insisted “it’s not all about me.”
Vocal support is a great boost
Publication: Newham Recorder
15 October 2008
We Are What We Do's new book will get 30 'change the world' ideas out to a big audience - and its young speakers will help that process.
Academies 'strangled by poor builders'
Publication: Times Education Supplement
25 July 2008
The academies programme is being
Community Care Interview
Publication: Community Care
22 July 2008
Ex-Capita head is now a social entrepreneur
Academy is smart investment for all
Publication: The Argus
10 July 2008
I love Brighton. I was born here, went to school here, worked here and still have a home here. I am now very proud to be the sponsor of the proposed academy at Falmer High School.
Would like to meet…Rod Aldridge
Publication: Charity Times
25 June 2008
Having founded the Capita Group in 1984, Rod Aldridge is now making his presence felt in the third sector. From establishing his own foundation to chairing the youth volunteering charity v, Sandra Haurant finds out how his move from the private sector has
Capita founder tries to turn criminals into entrepreneurs
Publication: Guardian Public Magazine
11 May 2008
Rod Aldridge is using his business skills and wealth to give reformed offenders a fresh start
An entrepreneur with soul
Publication: Guardian Public Magazine
1 March 2008
When Capita founder Rod Aldridge got caught up in the Labour loans scandal he immediately resigned, but it was time to go, he tells Polly Toynbee
Better out than in?
Publication: Public Finance
9 January 2008
With the public sector forced to make huge efficiency savings, outsourcing is one likely option.
Rod Aldridge: A Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
Publication: GS-Insight, Issue 13
1 January 2008
Capita founder and entrepreneur Rod Aldridge has set up his own Foundation to offer disadvantaged young people a second chance in life and is asking the awkward questions on shared services, public sector reform and social exclusion.
Children's minister backs pilot scheme to bring ballroom dancing into schools
Publication: www.24dash.com
Ed Balls, the Children, Schools, and Families Secretary, has welcomed a pilot scheme launched today with Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing show to bring ballroom and Latin dance into school PE lessons.
News Update 
The Aldridge Foundation releases report of the first international trip of the Opening Eyes programme - to New York City.
Project Spotlight
The Dance Champions Group, chaired by Rod Aldridge, launched in October 2009, with the aim of seeing hundreds of thousands of people encouraged to try dance as a physical activity.
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