RADICAL plans to transform education in Manchester with seven new academy schools are nearing completion.
The search is on to find the men and women who will lead them while a formal consultation period over the closure of five schools will start soon.
The part-private academy schools - due to open in September 2010 - will be linked to major employers and will each specialise in different subjects.
These include creative and media, digital communications, health, finance and business, construction and the built environment and business and enterprise.
A national recruitment drive to find principals for each academy will begin shortly, with appointments made as early as next spring.
Five of the academies will replace existing high schools - Brookway High and Parklands High, in Wythenshawe; Plant Hill High, in Higher Blackley; North Manchester High for Boys in Blackley; and North Manchester High for Girls in Moston. The other two will be on new sites on Grey Mare Lane, east Manchester, and Rochdale Road, Harpurhey.
Formal consultation on the proposed closures begins on November 4 until December 21.
Sponsors
Coun Sheila Newman said: "There is no doubt that the sponsors' involvement in our academy plans will be key to radically changing and improving the educational experience in the city's schools. Pupils at all schools will benefit as the academies' business sponsors will work collaboratively, sharing their knowledge, expertise and facilities with schools across the city."
Key sponsors include Bovis Lend Lease, Laing O'Rourke, BT, The Co-operative Group, Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester Airport, Willow Park Housing Trust and the Manchester College of Arts and Technology (Mancat).
Manchester council and Mancat will be co-sponsors of each academy and organisations including the BBC, City College, ITV Granada and Microsoft will offer support.
The proposals complement the work already under way through the government's Building Schools for the Future programme to rebuild each high school in the city - a £500m investment.
Pauline Newman, director of children's services at the council, said: "The academies will help shift attitudes and ambitions by offering challenging and fulfilling learning experiences.
"They will help ensure that young people leave school with the skills and qualifications to realise their full potential."
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Academy schools on move
October 17, 2007
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Timberman (18/10/2007 at 09:18)
Next: "Radical plans to transform education in Manchester with seven new academy schools are nearing completion."
No wonder people get confused when one story says the academies aren't working and the other sings it's praise. Must be school's for future MP,s and councilors who don't know their r's form their elbow.
A conercerned parent, Manchester (18/10/2007 at 15:29)
Why is it you have left it to the last minute again to announce something as important as the proposed 5 "City Academies". Eighteen days is not enough time with Christmas just round the corner most parents have enough to do with keeping their heads above water....
The school choices for next year have now been made, to effectively inform parents now that you intend to demolish our schools sell the land and cram our children into porter cabins for the next two years is deceitful. Although you haven't said that yet, we know underneath the glossy proposal, that is definitely what will happen!...