Town academy marks its first anniversary (From The Bolton News)

Town academy marks its first anniversary

9:23am Tuesday 26th January 2010 in

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ESSA Academy is celebrating its first birthday this month.

The borough’s first academy school opened last January on the site of Hayward School in Lever Edge Lane, Great Lever.

An academy is a publicly- funded independent school which is run by a sponsor.

In this case, the sponsor is The Essa Foundation, whose members included the brothers behind the Cohens Chemist chain, and Bolton Council. Since its opening, the academy has seen a record leap in its results. In the latest GCSE results, students achieved an average of seven grades of C and above, and two out of three achieved five or more top grades.

Essa is also making a name for itself by ensuring its pupils have access to the latest technology.

It hit the headlines recently when it became the first school to provide pupils with an iPod to ensure they can learn “anytime, anywhere”.

This, coupled with extra lessons at Bolton Wanderers study support centre, is helping many pupils prepare to sit their exams earlier in years nine and 10.

A new multi-million pound development is now on the cards Headteacher Showk Badat said: “We have been given an opportunity of a lifetime to shape the future for our young people and the community we live in. I am proud to be part of the Bolton Family to make this opportunity a stunning reality.”

Work on the £18 million building scheme is to start in April and scheduled for completion in October, 2011. The development will be a mix of two and three storeys.

Classrooms will be replaced by open plan learning areas to create maximum flexibility. Features of the new development will include a 3D audio visual theatre, modern sports facilities and writable glass walls to replace standard classroom whiteboards.

Work has already started on the library, a £100,000 project to help improve literacy standards, with new books and learning materials.

The timetable now features an activity afternoon, where pupils can experience a wide range of new activities each Friday afternoon.

Examples include international cooking, DIY and swimming lessons.

Senior school managers say that this is an opportunity for the students to gain new skills and extra qualifications.

The school also puts on adult classes for the community.

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, Bolton Council’s executive member for children’s services, said: “We are delighted to see the progress that Bolton’s first academy is making and the pride that pupils are taking in their new school.

“The pl-ans by Kier for the new building were really impressive. It will be an excellent site.”