As dozens of new academies are created in the West Midlands, Donna Bowater meets the head teacher of one school who believes the new status has transformed his institution.

Opponents to academy schools should take a look around Harborne Academy and be pleasantly surprised, according to head teacher Andrew Wright.

Formerly Harborne Hill, the school opened its doors in September and is almost at the end of its first year as Birmingham’s newest academy, specialising in health and science.

And with a mock ambulance and hospital ward the NHS would be proud of, Mr Wright believes the institution is a healthy example of this new model of schools.

"Independent of local authority control, the school is sponsored by Birmingham Metropolitan College and as a result Mr Wright says the partnership has increased the facilities available to Harborne students at the same time the school is reaching out to its community.

Mr Wright, who was head teacher before the school became an academy, said this was part of an approach that looked at the bigger picture of learning to produce successful pupils.

“I’m here to get the best results, the best future for our students and that’s why I’m in teaching full stop,” he said. “What becoming an academy has done has brought in a new partner with all their expertise, all their skills, which previously we wouldn’t have been available to do so we’ve gained massively from that.

“The sponsor becomes in effect the local authority so they are in charge of it overall but we’re developing a model that means our students can work on the college sites and the college students can come to work with our students.

“It’s a win-win situation because all of our staff will get a lot more experience of what comes before or after.

"That’s going to be a long-term bonus for our staff. It means that we can look after our students really well and give them the correct advice and information to succeed. At a time when it is getting harder to get employment, it’s so important.”

Mr Wright stressed Harborne Academy was not selective, and since September, the school has extended its intake to 11 to 18-year-olds instead of 11 to 16-year-olds.