Academy Partnership Award

Presented to the established specialist academy that can demonstrate benefits to the community through a partnership with a existing establishment (primary school, secondary school, university.

2009 Winner: Manchester Academy, Moss Side, Manchester

Manchester Academy, operated by the United Learning Trust, took over the troubled Dulcie High School in 2003, and has since transformed the level of education from dysfunctional to outstanding.  Partnerships with other schools, local business and  other community groups have been key to this, as well as sound judgements from the senior leadership team, headed by Executive Director Kathy August.

Students show their wider commitment to the community through extensive work with local primary schools and sitting as advisory members on an NHS Trust forum.

Jane Delfino, the academy's Director of Enterprise and Internationalism, was recently a regional winner in Marks and Spencer Sieff Award, which recognises an individual based in the community who has best collaborated with business to benefit society. This comes after she received the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2007.

Pinsent Masons, a Global 100 law firm, forged an educational partnership with Manchester Academy which includes a career-orientated mentoring programme, and a reading and maths support programme. The programme sees students paired with a staff member, and operates with a mix of visits to the school and sessions held at Pinsent Masons' UK offices. In 2007/2008 66% of the students stated that they felt their reading was better as a result of the programme. In 2008/2009 this figure increased to 100%.

Following on from a successful inaugural conference in April 2009, Manchester Academy is hosting the second Enterprise Education and Internationalism Conference in 2010. This is further evidence of how partnerships with businesses, schools and universities are benefitting the local community. It’s latest Ofsted report states: “Through its exceptionally strong partnerships with other organisations and businesses, students are prepared exceptionally well for further study and work beyond school.”

Commended:

John Cabot Academy, Bristol
Swindon Academy, Wiltshire