Manchester City Council

They will be taking part in a traditional bolt tightening ceremony on Tuesday, alongside Principal Designate Lynne Heath, Councillor Sheila Newman, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Children's Services, Sue Webster, Programme Director from BT and Marie Gilluley, Senior Vice Principal of The Manchester College.

Manchester Communication Academy will open in September 2010 and will offer a totally new way of educating young people. It will help them gain the skills they need to build their careers in the city's businesses.

Although it will be a centre of excellence in different forms of communication including languages, drama, media and presentation skills and digital communication, it will be an inclusive educational environment, supporting all types of learners whatever their interest. Learning will be at the students own pace, taking exams as and when they are ready.

The Academy, which is one of seven planned across the city, will be an innovative state of the art building at the junction of Rochdale Road and Queens Road and will provide 1200 places for 11 - 16 year olds and post 16 provision for 120 students. It is sponsored by BT, with co-sponsors Manchester City Council and The Manchester College.

Lynne Heath, Principal Designate for Manchester Communication Academy, says: 'I'm very much looking forward to the Academy opening and to working with all our students, to help them get a great education, in a friendly school, that will have excellent facilities and where learning will be exciting and rewarding.'

As part of the Academy's specialism, the whole site will be wireless, allowing students access to the internet and technology anywhere in the building.

Facilities at the new Academy will include a sports hall, a 180 seat drama studio, a full size all weather flood-lit sports pitch, five grass pitches and three outdoor games areas.

Sue Webster, BT Programme Director, says: "It's great to officially celebrate the rapid progress of work on site. The Academy will be a fabulous new local high school for the area. It will offer learning opportunities not only to students, but their families and the whole community. We are keen to work with local people and community groups to ensure we meet local needs."

The Academy 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 site 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. It will be open for students and the local community to use before and after school, as well as during the school holidays.

Students will also have the option to do their homework at the Academy before or after school, with staff available to help.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member Children's Services, Manchester City Council, says: "The Academies programme is part of the city council's overarching vision to completely transform the way children learn. We are committed to ensuring that the brand new 21st century buildings are also delivering a fit for the future 21st century education."