CITY Academies have been designed by the government to raise achievement and aspirations among young people in inner-city areas.

If Ducie High is earmarked as a city academy it could be among the first to open in the country.

The academies will have greater freedom than other schools to tackle problems associated with low pupil performance. They will offer a broad curriculum but will also be encouraged to specialise in a particular field expected to be science at Ducie.

The curriculum will be supported by visits and after-school activities. Ducie would be funded directly from government, rather than through the local education authority.

And sponsors - likely to come from the neighbouring Manchester Science Park - would be expected to provide 20 per cent of the initial start-up costs of around £1.2m.

It is believed the majority of pupils would be drawn from the local area. Up to 10 per cent could be admitted from other areas of the city or other authorities, on the basis of their interest in science.

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