Health Academy Launch

Health Minister Andy Burnham MP paid a visit to the brand Manchester Health Academy in Wythenshawe - the first Academy in the country to be sponsored by the NHS - to see for himself what the new Academy will be offering to pupils.

One of seven new Academies across the city, it will provide 600 places for 11-16 year olds and post-16 provision for students available from September 2010. It is sponsored by Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester City Council and The Manchester College.

Two senior managers with a lifetime’s combined teaching experience have been appointed as vice principals of The Manchester Health Academy.

The £19m Manchester Health Academy, which has specialist subjects in health, including bioscience, and sport has initially opened on the premises of the former Brookway High School and Sports College in Wythenshawe before moving to a brand new building on the same site next year.

Fiona O’Sullivan from Chorlton has been appointed vice principal with responsibility for learning development. Fiona is well-placed at the Health Academy as she originally trained as a nurse working at Manchester Royal Infirmary where she progressed to senior staff nurse.

In addition to seven years in the health care sector Fiona also worked for two years as a residential social worker in a pre-fostering and adoption unit for children aged between 5 and 13.

Fiona decided to retrain in 1989 and began her teaching career as a sociology and psychology teacher at Eccles Sixth Form College in Salford. A series of promotions over the next 13 years saw her take on different roles ranging from senior tutor to head of health and social care/child care and latterly in a senior leadership role as curriculum lead manager.

In December 2003 Fiona moved to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council where she worked on three successive contracts in School Improvement Services including Excellence in Cities director and culminating in the role of head of secondary school improvement.

In 2006 Fiona became 14-19 co-ordinator for the five secondary schools in North Rochdale and assistant head teacher at Falinge Park High School, also in Rochdale.

Gaynor Fitzgerald from Chorley, has been appointed vice principal with responsibility for specialism and the extended academy.

Gaynor, who was born in Liverpool, began her teaching career in 1986 in Wiltshire before moving back to teach in schools in the northwest in 1990.
From 1990 she spent the next eight years working in Salford as a co-ordinator, deputy headteacher and headteacher.  She then became literacy consultant for the local authority with responsibility for implementing the Government’s Literacy Strategy across Salford’s primary, special and secondary schools.

In 1999 she moved to a post she held for seven years as deputy director of the two Wythenshawe Education Action Zones, before becoming their director. During this time she worked closely with all Wythenshawe headteachers, along with local and national businesses for the benefit of young people in Wythenshawe. She led on the development of projects such as the Primary Graduate School, a Government funded primary/secondary transition plan, and also a high profile learning project linked to the workplace in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the local secondary schools.

More recently, she moved to Place Group as a senior consultant where her main duties included working alongside the sponsors and principal designates providing educational support and advice within the Academies programme.

The Academy is supported by the Manchester United Foudation, which will work with students to develop and promote healthy living through sport and the association with Manchester United, its players and philosophy.

Barry Burke, principal of The Manchester Health Academy, said: “We are delighted to have recruited two exceptional candidates to the vice principal posts whose experience and expertise will benefit the entire Academy.”

Peter Mount, Chairman of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Academy and its staff have a focus on health, sport and well-being, something which we as an organisation are keen to promote and support.”

Although The Manchester Health Academy will be a centre of excellence in its specialist subjects it will be an inclusive educational environment, supporting all types of learners, whatever their interests. Learning will be personalised to each student’s own potential and pace.

The academies programme, which is a totally new way of educating young people and helping them gain business skills, forms part of a £700 million investment to improve buildings and facilities across Manchester. Learning transformation – changing how learning is delivered – is at the heart of city-wide activity to improve education outcomes.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Manchester City Council, said: “Education in Manchester is being revolutionised through the new academies and that can only be done by having a team of dedicated and talented teachers.”

Peter Tavernor, Principal of the Manchester College, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to raise aspirations and ensure that Wythenshawe’s children realise their true potential with the help of inspirational role models.”

The Academy will be hosting an Open Evening, on Tuesday 22^nd September (5.30pm to 8pm), for prospective new students and local community members to meet Mr Burke and his staff, tour the school site, meet current students and view the progress made to the new school building.

For those attending, there will be a prize draw on the evening to win Manchester United tickets for a home game at Old Trafford during the current season. These have been donated by the Manchester United Foundation, a key partner of the Manchester Health Academy in delivering community health and sport sessions at local primary schools and events.

Further information about the open evening can be obtained by visiting www.manchesterhealthacademy.org.uk or calling Main Reception on 0161 998 3992