Landau Forte College was purpose built and opened in 1992 as the 14th City Technology College in England. As one of the original City Technology Colleges nationally it was a grounding member of the City Technology Colleges Trust which has grown into the specialist schools movement known as the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. In 2005 HM Government invited the College to change its status to an Academy. In the summer of 2006 an agreement was reached between our Primary Sponsors, the Landau Charitable Foundation and Rocco Forte Hotels Plc and from 1 September 2006 the College changed its status from City Technology College (CTC) to an Academy. As an Academy the College will have dual specialisms of Technology and Business Enterprise.

Academies are independent, all ability state funded schools. Like the CTCs they are members of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust movement which now has over 2900 schools. It is intended that there will be approximately 200 Academies nationally and all of the 15 original City Technology Colleges, each distinctive and successful in its own right, have been invited to become Academies. Almost all of the CTCs are in the process of converting or have already converted. Both the Government and the DfES are enthusiastic for the CTCs to join the Academy programme so that they may share their past experiences and successes both within the developing Academy Programme as well as locally and regionally with other schools, for the benefit of the wider system of education.

Whilst the College is part of the national network of schools and colleges, it is owned and operated as an independent educational organisation, providing free full time education for children from 11 to 19 years old who live mainly within the City of Derby or within a radius of 4.75 miles from the College. Currently we have more than 1000 students with almost a quarter of them in the Post 16 phase. The College has been established to bring together the worlds of business, industry and education in a uniquely productive partnership to secure the highest quality education for young people. Demand for places is very high and the College has been extended to accommodate more students and provide improved learning facilities for them.

The College provides a distinctive style of education. The aim is to make learning challenging, interesting and relevant to the future to ensure that our students:

• Have acquired the ability to think logically and approach situations with an open and inquiring mind.
• Become independent learners.
• Have discovered and developed their personal strengths, aptitudes and interests. Are familiar with the expectations of future employers.
• Understand how industry is structured and operates.
• Are well equipped with the technological skills, adaptability and interpersonal skills necessary in employment and training.
• Have developed personal qualities of initiative, self-reliance and responsibility so that they grow into enterprising, versatile and law abiding citizens.
• Are encouraged to contribute to a better society which takes into account the needs of others and shows respect for people and the environment.