New primary school announced for Manchester city centre

A new primary school in Manchester city centre will serve the growing number of families in the area, with the Council’s Executive approving additional budget for the project this week.

Plans for the school were first agreed in February 2020, with a decision to proceed with a free school presumption to develop a new primary school for the city centre.

The Council has been working in partnership with developer Renaker on plans for the school, which is being delivered as part of a wider residential development.

The 210-place primary school and 26-place nursery will be located at Crown Street in Deansgate ward and is expected to open in September 2023.

Cllr Garry Bridges, executive member for children and schools at Manchester City Council, said: ‘This is a big moment for Manchester and a big statement on what we want our city centre to be – a family friendly place with lots of homes and jobs for all. People want to make the city centre their home and so it’s important for us to provide the infrastructure they need to enable them to do this through every stage of their lives. 

‘Having a good local school on their doorstep is what every family wants and our city centre residents deserve no less. In just under two years they’re now set to benefit from a brilliant new school, a mere stroll away from where they live, that will serve them and future generations of children in the city centre for years to come.’

Additional capital funding of £2.45m in the 2022/23 financial year and £0.25m in the 2023/24 financial year, funded by external contribution, was unanimously agreed by councillors, along with a further £0.250m in 2021/22 and £3.250m in 2022/23 from the approved Education Basic Need unallocated budget.

In related news, Southampton City Councillors were joined by Morgan Sindall Construction and other partners to celebrate the ‘topping out’ of the new St Mark’s Church of England School.

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