Teachers aim to set up city academy

Up to 500 places will be created at the King's Science Academy – backed by a wealthy philanthropist – which plans to open next September as one of 16 schools created under Education Secretary Michael Gove's flagship reforms.

A group largely comprised of teachers is behind the bid to set up the academy in Lidget Green, an area which lacks a secondary school. They have been told to draw up a business plan before Mr Gove decides whether to give the project final approval.

The academy – which will cater for pupils aged 11 to 16 – is backed by businessman Alan Lewis, chairman of the Hartley Group, who has built up a fortune of more than 300m, and will specialise in science and focus particularly on developing the character and manners of pupils.

Sajid Hussain, who is heading up the proposal, said it had "massive support" in the community. "Parents in inner city areas are delighted by the fact we're going to be opening up and have an outstanding teacher group leading it," he said.

He said conversion of the buildings would be a simple task, and planning work was already well advanced. Parents are already being invited to express interest in enrolling their children there.

An advisory group behind the proposal includes teachers, education professionals, an accountant, solicitor, former civil servants and members of Future Leaders, a programme to develop leaders for challenging inner city schools.

Mr Gove has faced criticism that only 16 proposals have so far been given a provisional green light under his free schools scheme, where parents, teachers, businesses and educational groups can apply to set up their own school. But he said he was "delighted" with the number that had come forward.

"We need to reform our education system if we are to accelerate improvement to keep pace with the highest-performing systems of the world and ensure that every pupil growing up in this country gets a better chance of achieving their potential," said Mr Gove.

"Free Schools form an integral part of the Government's education policy to improve choice for parents and raise standards for all young people."

Yesterday Mr Gove also fleshed out his idea for a British version of the international baccalaureate which will award a school leavers' certificate to pupils with good GCSE grades in English, maths, science, a modern or ancient language and a humanities subject.

He said the GCSE qualification was still a "resilient" qualification and the scheme would take the best from both systems.