Academy Time Capsule

The Manchester Enterprise Academy held its official opening ceremony with students marking the occasion by sealing items in a time capsule, not to be seen again for a hundred years.

600 students of the academy heard from Andrew Cornish, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, and Marie Quayle, their new Principal, about the direction the new Academy will take.

Five winning students, one from each year group, were also given the chance to place items that represent enterprise and life in 2009 into a time capsule, that will next be opened in a hundred years.

Marie Quayle, said: “Today marks a new beginning for this facility and its students. We want this to be a full time operation where students of all ages come and learn. There will be adult provision for the people of Wythenshawe in the evening as well as daytime learning. Our students need to be equipped with the skills to succeed in the workplace in the future and with the support of our partners, we will provide those opportunities.”

The Enterprise Academy has a curriculum focus on business and enterprise and will provide 750 places for 11-16 year olds and post-16 provision from 2010. It opened in the existing building on September 1^st but will move to a brand new £19m building in Sept 2010. The new Academy is based on Simonsway in Wythenshawe and replaces the former Parklands High School.

The Academy is sponsored by Manchester Airport with co-sponsorship from Willow Park Housing Trust, Manchester City Council and The Manchester College. Manchester has a combined Building Schools for the Future (BSF) and Academies programme with a £500m capital investment to rebuild or refurbish 33 schools, seven of which will be specialist Academies. All seven Academies will be up and running by 2010.

The Academies aim to provide pupils with the skills needed to make the most of future employment opportunities in the region’s growth industries.

Andrew Cornish, and executives from Manchester Airport have been heavily involved in the development of the new Academy and its future aims. He said: “Today is a new beginning for this institution. There are several partners including Willow Park Housing Trust and The Manchester College who will all be putting resources and effort into ensuring that this Academy delivers the right learning experience which will help these students develop their future careers.”

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Manchester City Council says: “The Enterprise Academy has been open just a few weeks, but already there is a real sense of excitement and anticipation for what the future holds. The time capsule is a wonderful way for students to create a lasting memory of what the Academy means to them and capture a snapshot of their lives. We look forward to seeing both students and teachers benefiting from the wonderful facilities and reaching their full potential.”