Manchester’s Finance and Business City Academy and pro?manchester

As part of Labour's city academy programme, Manchester City Council announced plans in 2006 to build six new state of the art schools in the city. 

The scheme will see the creation of six new academies in a £450m building and refurbishment package involving more than 20 schools across the city. The programme has identified key employment sector specialisms and lined up with a sponsoring businesses partner to back them. The academies, which will open from 2009, will have formal links with local authority schools and are seen as vital to delivering new vocational courses.

The academies aim to drive educational transformation in areas most in need.

Plant Hill School in Blackley has been selected as the hub for the new finance and business academy and aims to provide a new kind of secondary education delivered with state-of-the-art teaching materials, technology and resources. The Academy will offer pupils access to the world of finance and business and be a centre of excellence for finance and business, working with other Academies, high schools, primary schools and other learning providers.

The Co-operative Group has been appointed as the sponsoring employer along with partners MANCAT and City College.

The old school has been demolished to make way for the new building and recruitment is underway for the Principal to head up the new school.

pro?manchester was invited in the early days by Sir Howard Bernstein to play a role in the development of the academy and has a seat on the academy’s steering group to actively represent and promote the wider views of the sector and our membership.

As the academy is developed over the next 12 months, we will be encouraging the active involvement of members to benefit of the wider Manchester FPS community. Details are still to be worked out, but curriculum development, work experience or business awareness sessions, teaching, coaching and mentoring are areas for possible engagement. 

See this webpage to keep up to date with developments. If you are interested in contributing to the development of the academy and to put forward your ideas, e-mail catherine.heaton@pro-manchester.co.uk or call 0161 817 3484.