Six of the best for Manchester’s Academies

Six north west headteachers with almost 200 years of teaching experience between them have been appointed as the new leaders for Manchester’s innovative academies.

Marie Quayle from Widnes has been appointed the Principal Designate for Manchester Enterprise Academy in Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe.

Marie began her career as a history teacher at Great Sankey High School in Warrington. After stints at several schools in Cheshire, she was appointed Deputy Head at De La Salle Catholic High School in Liverpool in 1999, where she stayed for four years.

In 2003, she was appointed headteacher at St Edmund of Canterbury Catholic High School in Huyton, Liverpool. The school was acknowledged as one of the most challenging in the borough, but under Marie's headship results improved from 19% to 46%.

In September 2006, while at St Edmund's, Marie took over the leadership of a neighbouring school that was undergoing a phased closure and managed a smooth transition of three year groups to the St Edmund's role while still remaining on their own site several miles away.

The Enterprise Academy will specialise in business and enterprise and will open in September 2009. The Enterprise Academy will replace Parklands High School in September 2009 and the new building will open in September 2010.

It will provide 750 places for 11-16 year olds and post 16 provision from 2010 and is sponsored by Manchester Airport.

Barry Fishwick from Salford has been appointed the Principal Designate for the Creative and Media Academies. It is proposed that these will be two single sex co-located sites in Charlestown, North Manchester.

Barry started his career as a maths and science teacher at Buile Hill High School in Salford. He moved to Fairfield High School in Widnes two years later where he stayed for 12 years enjoying steady progression and promotion including Head of Year, Head of Maths and Co-ordinator of Maths, Science and Technology.

In 1988 he joined Padgate High School in Warrington as Promotion Exams Officer where six years later he helped steer it to its highest results ever for that period - the school's results have since improved even further.

In 1996 Barry was appointed deputy head at Penketh High School in Warrington and was promoted to headteacher two years later. Results at the school have grown from 31% 5 A* - C to the best ever of 68% last year. Under Barry's leadership, the school gained specialist status for Visual and Media Arts and is now one of the leading media schools in the country.

The school is described by Ofsted as having outstanding features and one of the best curriculum provisions it has seen.

The proposal is that the Creative and Media Academies will open in September 2010 and will form a national centre of excellence in creative and media education and digital learning technologies. They will provide 2 x 750 places for 11-16 year olds and post 16 provision and are sponsored by The Manchester College, which is the result of the merger of Manchester College of Arts and Technology (MANCAT) and City College Manchester.

Alyson Byrne from Eccles has been appointed the Principal Designate for the Co-operative Academy of Manchester in Higher Blackley, North Manchester.

Ayson's first teaching post was at Park High School in Wigan as an English teacher. She then spent two years in Kuwait as head of English at the Gulf English School before returning to England to take up teaching posts at a number of Wigan schools.

In 1993 she was appointed assistant headteacher at Smithills School in Bolton. In 2000, while deputy headteacher at Turton High School, also in Bolton, Alyson established the first Media Arts College in the North. She successfully secured £4m of funding and oversaw the completion of a brand new sixth form and media arts centre.

In 2002, Alyson joined The Derby High School in Bury and one year later developed it into England's first Science and Arts College. Under her leadership, the best ever results were achieved with a 14% improvement over five years.

The Co-operative Academy will specialise in finance and business and will open in September 2010. It will provide 900 places for 11 -16 year olds and post 16 provision and is sponsored by the Co-operative Group.

Barry Burke from Chorley has been appointed the Principal Designate for the Manchester Health Academy in Brooklands, Wythenshawe.

Barry began his career as a physics and maths teacher at North Chadderton Secondary School in Lancashire. After a number of years progression in schools in Oldham and Wigan, he was appointed headteacher of Ehenside High School in Cumbria where he stayed for four years.

In 1999, he was appointed headteacher of Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Lancashire where he led the students and staff to the status of being identified as the 5th most improved secondary school in England in 2005.

In January 2006, while at Rhyddings, Barry became associate headteacher at Norden Sports College when the then current headteacher became seriously ill. He remained in this position for eight months in which time he developed links between the two different staff groups which helped establish the Hyndburn Partnership. This scheme sees six schools and a post 16 college providing courses which might need particular expertise or resources or would not otherwise be possible at one school.

The Health Academy will open in September 2010 and will specialise in health, targeting students interested in careers in the medical, clinical, nursing and technical health services. It will provide 600 places for 11 - 16 year olds and 120 for 16 - 19 education and is sponsored by Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Guy Hutchence from Stockport has been appointed the Principal Designate for the East Manchester Academy in Beswick, East Manchester.

Guy's teaching career began as an English teacher and exam co-ordinator at North Manchester High School for Girls. After almost 10 years he moved to Moston Brook High School as an English teacher before progressing to headteacher. In his two years as head, exam results improved from 7% 5A* - C to 30%.

In 2000 he was appointed headteacher of the newly launched Cedar Mount High School in Gorton where his achievements include improving exam results (5A* - C) from 13% to 53% in six years. The school has also been placed in the Top 100 Most Improved Schools in the country for improvement in results for three years in a row.

The East Manchester Academy will open in September 2010 and will be a centre of excellence for everything relating to the built environment ranging from city and community planning, development including design and construction, the supply of many services such as transport, building services, energy, ICT, maintenance and environmental services. It will provide 900 places for 11 - 16 year olds and post 16 provision and is sponsored by Bovis Lend Lease and Laing O'Rourke.

Lynne Heath from Runcorn has been appointed the Principal Designate for the Communication Academy in Harpurhey, North Manchester.

Lynne began teaching at Norton Priory School in Runcorn. She held several positions at the school in her 12 year tenure including head of History, assistant head of sixth form and head of Humanities.

In 1989 she decided to complement her teaching by accepting an advisory technology teaching position with Cheshire LEA. This was followed by a stint as a Teacher Fellow with ICI in Runcorn and three years as an inspector and adviser with Trafford MBC.

In 1994 she returned to teaching as deputy head of Lathom High School in Skelmersdale before progressing to headteacher of Prescot School Language College in Knowsley where numbers have increased from 650 pupils to 930. It was designated a specialist language school in 2000 and despite being in the third most deprived borough in the country there was a 51% success rate of 5A* - C last year.

The Communication Academy will open in September 2010 and will offer students access to the fast moving world of digital communications and ICT. It will provide 1200 places for 11 - 16 year olds and post 16 provision and is sponsored by BT.

A spokesman on behalf of the sponsors says: "We look forward to working closely with our Principal Designates to enhance education in the city by combining our expertise, knowledge and skills for the benefit of all students.

This partnership will allow students to learn about the world of work, increase their motivation and acquire all the education and skills to enable them to contribute positively to their community and workplace."

The seven academies will differ from existing schools in that sponsors will work alongside teachers to design learning and assessment materials. All students will have personal mentors as well as round the clock access to materials and support to encourage 'anytime, anywhere learning.'

The sites will have extended opening hours and will become the hub of the community giving parents, families and the whole community the opportunity to benefit from the facilities.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member Children's Services, Manchester City Council, says: "We are delighted to welcome all six Principal Designates to their new roles. The Manchester Academies model has been developed to ensure the maximum benefit for the city and its communities. It is a combination of public and private sector partners working as one team towards one collective goal and ensuring that Manchester retains its standing as a world class city."

MEDIA CONTACT:

Maggie Doyle, Press Office, tel: 0161 234 4610.