In fact the Science, Business and Computing, English, Mathematics and Humanities curriculum areas regularly work with MMU. The English and Mathematics students in Year 11 were supported in revision sessions on a weekly basis by MMU undergraduates.
The English department is taking part in the prestigious Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetry competition, a Laureate education project. Students were fortunate to meet Carol Ann Duffy and perform their own poetry in front of her and an audience of young people.
Year 9 boys had their work exhibited and celebrated at a reception at MMU. The boys took part in a Comic Smart writing project where they created their own comic strip heroes and illustrated their work.
The Music department were invited to take Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students to take part in Gamelan workshops.
As part of an Academy Sector Drop Week on Construction, interested students visited the Birley Fields site and enjoyed a tour which included scaling the side of a new build dressed in protective boots, gloves, jackets, glasses and hard hats. The students were also given the opportunity to meet and interview a variety of professionals from the McAlpine construction team.
Students are now undertaking work placements at the Birley Fields site. Thanks go to Diane Higgins at McAlpine for organising these events.
Bespoke projects have been successful. Manchester Metropolitan University have supported Manchester’s ‘So You Want to Be a Medic Week’ and Engineering Sector Drop Week by providing interactive sessions on campus with faculty members and undergraduates.
In this way students gain an understanding of career pathways, university requirements for courses and have an understanding of how a campus works.
By Ruth Warburton
Enterprise Administrator
Manchester Academy