BOSSES at one of the region's newest city academies are busy drawing up plans for a £15m building with everything you would expect from the next generation of super schools, except one . . . a school bell.

Salford City Academy, which this week became the second city academy to open in Greater Manchester, is one of the first schools in the country to ditch the bell.

So now, instead of the noise of the bell at the beginning and end of lessons, youngsters move between classrooms on the say-so of their teacher.

Academy principal Elizabeth Haddock came up with the idea to make going to school more like going to work. She said: "We got rid of the bells because when you are at work you don't have bells and that has added to the calm nature of the school."

Message

Adding to the sense of professionalism is a new uniform - with blazers and ties instead of sweatshirts. But it's the new building - which will open next year - that Mrs Haddock believes will send out the clearest message to pupils about the value of their education.

The present leaky 1960s school - formerly Canon Williamson CE High School, in Eccles - lacks the facilities now associated with a 21st century school.

But the new £15m building, which is on the same site and only made possible due to the funding that comes with city academy status, will boast music and drama studios, a graphics room, a sports hall and five sports pitches.

Do you like the idea of a bell-less school? Have your say.