Connell Sixth Form College
Following a successful bid for funding from Central Government as part of the Free Schools programme, The Bright Futures Education Trust are establishing a Sixth Form college for 16-19 year olds in Beswick, which will serve the needs and aspirations of the local community in east Manchester.
The college will be called Connell Sixth Form College, named after the family which founded Manchester City Football Club (MCFC). MCFC was originally formed to combat unemployment, anti-social behaviour and crime. Since the late 1800s the football club has built a deep and lasting relationship with communities across Manchester and this work is on-going today. MCFC are donating the land on which the college will be built. With these factors in mind, the Trust and their partners, Manchester City Council and New East Manchester agreed on ‘Connell Sixth Form College’ as an appropriate name for the new sixth form college. There will be an on-going relationship between the college and the Club as approximately 50 places will be allocated to scholars at the Manchester City Football Academy (MCFA).
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frequently asked questions
Connell Sixth Form College is a key part of the vision for Beswick, delivering a 600 place student Sixth Form College for 16-19 year olds planned to open in September 2013.
Run by the Bright Futures Educational Trust, it will offer the values, ethos and student experience of a traditional Sixth Form and will seek to establish from the outset a strong track record of progression to higher education. The college will meet the demands within the east of the city for traditional A-Levels and will raise aspirations and progression through education of local young people.
Students will become part of a vibrant and professional learning community, surrounded by like-minded young people at the start of a new journey.
'The Bright Futures Educational Trust is delighted to be able to offer a further high quality provision, which will complement the already existing educational opportunitites in East Manchester.'
Mrs Dana Ross-Wawrzynski, CEO of The Bright Futures Educational Trust
'This is a really exciting project marking another milestone in the regeneration of East Manchester and bringing tremendous opportunities to the young people of this area.'
Mrs Gillian Winter, Principal designate
The approach to teaching and learning will be based on students being challenged and inspired to raise their aspirations and pursue academic excellence. It will develop resilient young adults willing to take risks and celebrate success. The experience at the college will prepare them to take on the rigour of higher education along with the necessary confidence and independence needed to compete for success.
Through close links with local primary and secondary schools, Universities and major employers, a consistent and collaborative approach will be adopted. This will bring with it the best possible opportunities to progress to higher education and access the new employment opportunities which are being created across the City.
The college’s location within the wider Beswick scheme, which will provide high quality sporting, leisure, and community facilities, will make it unique.
Students have access to excellent facilities, while the local community will benefit from use of the college which offers an active extended school provision.
The college will play a role in the ongoing regeneration of east Manchester, helping it to continue to change from an area characterised by deprivation to one of opportunity and choice.
Core objectives:
- To provide a full Sixth Form academic curriculum in east Manchester that raises the aspirations and attainment of young people.
- To increase the number of young people from east Manchester who progress to University, training or employment at the age of 18 plus.
- To provide young people with advanced academic and vocational qualifications which reflect the jobs which are being created in the city.
- To provide safe and high quality facilities within a wider community campus that inspire staff, young people, parents and the local community to develop to their full potential.
- To understand each student’s differing learning needs and abilities and use a wide variety of teaching methods to enable them to make significant progress matched to their ability.
- To engage with other education providers, partners and employers to maximise the benefits for the local community.
Connell Sixth Form College will:
- Introduce an academic Sixth Form curriculum tailored to helping young people from low income communities access higher education and higher skilled employment opportunities.
- Provide the pastoral care and learning support which allow young people to wholeheartedly commit to their studies.
- Introduce new initiatives such as a pre-A level support programme and innovative work experience programmes.
The leadership and expertise of Bright Futures Educational Trust will ensure that the challenge of achieving a step change in the number of academically successful young people in east Manchester will be met in full.
Regeneration in East Manchester – the Beswick Project
Connell Sixth Form College is part of a wider masterplan for the regeneration of the Beswick area and will add to the excellent education offer already provided in the area, which includes the new East Manchester Academy.
Manchester City Council (MCC), New East Manchester Ltd (NEM) and Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) have created a partnership to transform the neighbourhood surrounding the Etihad Stadium. The shared aim is to build on more than a decade of regeneration to ensure this part of the city will continue to play a pivotal role in the future of Manchester.
The Beswick project, not only provides a new international visitor destination for the city but will bring a range of community facilities that will benefit current and future local residents, bringing jobs, skills and education, health and wellbeing and ultimately creating a neighbourhood of choice.
The partnership’s first project is the creation of MCFC’s youth development complex and first-team training ground next to the Etihad stadium, the Manchester City Football Academy (MCFA).
The partnership wants to build on the success of MCFA and deliver community, educational and sporting facilities through the Beswick project. Forming the southern gateway to the area, the scheme aims to bring 2,500 visitors a day to the area, creating 195 new jobs across a 16 acre site.