Go-ahead for New Charter Academy

A huge investment of £40million is heading for Ashton-under-Lyne as government ministers gave the final go-ahead to build a new education campus.

A new home for the New Charter Academy will be built by the Inspired Spaces consortium on land at Broadoak to the north of the town. It will be constructed alongside a replacement for the Samuel Laycock special school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.

The New Charter Academy opened in September 2008 on two former secondary school sites. It was the first in England to be sponsored by a housing association. News of the go-ahead arrived as staff and students were on their summer break.

Group Chief Executive of sponsor New Charter, Ian Munro is also chair of governors at the Academy. “We’ve overcome several unexpected obstacles to finally present government with proposals“, he said. “This is the first Academy to be built as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme without using the private finance initiative, so there’s been some new ground for us all to tread.

“Exciting though this news is, the Academy is not about new buildings but transforming the life chances of our young people. But these fantastic facilities will help. I’m delighted the builders are starting work this week. We will welcome students here in September 2011.”

The inspirational design will complement the efforts to establish the Academy as one of the leading education providers. The purpose-built facilities will incorporate state-of-the art sports, performing arts, science and technology facilities designed around the Academy’s needs. Every space will access the latest IT and every student will be able to use it.

Although the Academy is the largest school in Tameside, the new campus is designed to feel like a small school environment. The specialist areas – business and enterprise, sports, creative arts, science, design and technology - and learning resources will be first class and available for use by the community and other schools.
 

www.newcharter.co.uk

www.newcharteracademy.org.uk