Manchester welcomes opening of four new academies

Education in Manchester is set to receive a boost with the opening of four innovative new academies across the city this month.

Manchester Creative and Media Academies in Charlestown, north Manchester open their doors for the very first time on Friday (September 4), followed by Manchester Enterprise Academy and The Manchester Health Academy, both in Wythenshawe, south Manchester on Monday, September 7.

Manchester is the only city in the UK to have four academies opening this September as well as being the first to have a health academy.

The academies, which are a totally new way of educating young people and helping them gain business skills, form part of a £700 million investment to improve buildings and facilities across Manchester. Learning transformation - changing how learning is delivered - is at the heart of city-wide activity to improve education outcomes.

The Manchester academies programme differs from others across the UK in that Manchester City Council is a co-sponsor of the academies along with businesses.

 Manchester Creative and Media Academies are two single sex academies - a 900 place all girls academy and a 600 place all boys academy for 11-16 yr olds with co-ed post 16 provision for 120 students from September 2010.

They will form a national centre of excellence in creative and media education and digital learning technologies.

The academies will have multimedia zones allowing students to explore both technical and creative skills and learn in a flexible way.

The academies are currently housed on the premises of the former North Manchester High School for Boys and Girls.

The lead sponsor for both academies is The Manchester College with Manchester City Council and Microsoft as co-sponsors.

Manchester Enterprise Academy has a focus on business and enterprise and will provide 750 places for 11-16 year olds with post 16 provision for 120 students from 2010. It will open in the premises of the former Parklands High School before moving to a brand new £19m building in Sept 2010.

The lead sponsor is Manchester Airport with Willow Park Housing Trust, Manchester City Council and The Manchester College as co-sponsors.

Facilities and opportunities at the academy will include flexible learning zones, promoting teamwork, a multi screen TV wall allowing numerous images and information to be screened at the same time, and one to one mentoring for students by local business people.

The Manchester Health Academy is the first of its kind in the UK and has a focus on health, including bioscience. It will provide 600 places for 11-16 year olds with post 16 provision for 120 students available from September 2010. It is initially on the premises of the former Brookway High School and Sports College before moving to a brand new £19m building on the same site in September 2010.

Part of the complex will be home to a stunning new community library that will open during the day, evenings and on Saturdays offering a homework club, serving not only the academy students, but also local primary school pupils.

It will also host regular reading groups, author visits and other free events for the community and will have an access point to wider council services such as benefits, health and employment advice.

The lead sponsor is Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with Manchester City Council and The Manchester College as co-sponsors.

The academy is also supported by the Manchester United Foundation, which will work with students to develop and promote healthy living through sport and the association with Manchester United, its players and philosophy.

All the 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 academies will have extended opening hours, becoming the hub of the community and 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: "These four academies are the start of an exciting programme that will see seven new academies targeting Manchester's key growth industries open by 2010. It is the start of a totally new way of educating children to ensure real transformational learning.  

"All of our schools are taking a good look at the way in which children are taught and how they learn. Academies will provide an education that is linked to employers and business ensuring we equip students with the skills they need to take advantage of job opportunities."