The founding cohort of students have started school at Stoke-on-Trent’s newest academy.
Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams in Meir opened its doors to 120 Year 7 students yesterday. They will begin learning inside temporary classroom accommodation while the school’s state-of-the-art building is constructed.
Named after Florence Jessie MacWilliams, a trailblazing mathematician born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1917, the academy aims to embody her inspirational legacy.
Florence’s passion for learning led her to Cambridge University at a time when educational opportunities for women were limited.
Local residents will start seeing big changes on the site during September as the steelwork is erected and the outline of the new building will become visible.
The school will grow year-on-year until it has students aged 11-19 in all year groups by 2030.
Headteacher Elizabeth Clewlow said: “It is a great privilege to be able to create a legacy for future generations that is built in, by, and for Stoke. Contributing to the Florence MacWilliams project from inception and seeing it through to fruition is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Florence will be an exceptional academy; our founding pupils will benefit hugely from being part of a growing academy that has the opportunity to establish a strong culture from the very beginning, with our staff getting to know every child and family.”
The school’s admission number will increase to 180, offering even more places to local children.
The new academy is part of Co-op Academies Trust, which was founded in 2010, and has 38 academies across the North of England.
