Funding milestone as latest Birmingham academy prepares to open

SCHOOLS Secretary Ed Balls has agreed to fund the third of EACT’s academies to open in Birmingham.

North Birmingham Academy – currently College High, in Erdington – opens as an EACT academy on January 6, 2010 – bringing the total number of academies sponsored by EACT in the city to three, and across England to eight.

The Minister of State for Schools, Vernon Coaker, has written to Sir Bruce Liddington, Director General of EACT, to confirm the decision.

In his letter, Mr Coaker said: “This funding agreement is a crucial step in taking forward the project from an exciting idea to a real school in the making. I am delighted with the progress made on this project and I look forward to the academy opening in January 2010.”

Academy Principal Kim Popratnjak has been working closely with EACT’s education and project management teams to prepare the school for transformation into a new academy. More than 100 staff will transfer to the academy together with students from the existing school.

Ms Popratnjak said: “We have worked hard to prepare for the new academy and I’m delighted that the funding and other arrangements are now in place. This is an opportunity for us to build on the improvements we have already been making and provide an exceptional learning experience for all our students. We are also looking forward to moving into a new purpose-built academy building in 2013.”

Sir Bruce Liddington said: “North Birmingham Academy will join our other academies focusing on significantly improving education for all students together with opportunities to enter further and higher education and employment. We’re committed to delivering educational excellence and as part of that we’re investing in new technology and a new academy building which will be a boost for students, staff and the wider community.”