New academy bid given green light - The Solihull Observer

New academy bid given green light

Solihull Editorial 1st Jun, 2015 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

PLANS for a new engineering academy in the north of the borough have been given the green light by planning chiefs.

The new WMG Academy, which will be built on the vacant site at the corner of Chelmsley Road and Conway Road, will eventually host 640 young engineers aged 14 to 19.

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull is a sister Academy to the WMG Academy in Coventry.

It will initially take students at years 10 (aged 14) and year 12 (aged 16) with the first intake joining in September 2016 and demand for places is expected to be high – as it is in Coventry.




With an ethos of being “business-like and business led”, the academy will provide students with relevant GCSE and A level qualifications, specific engineering qualifications and an impressive range of partner companies will ensure that students leave prepared for the world of work.

The building itself will be more like a business than a school with flexible working spaces, specialist dedicated engineering facilities and a Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) suite.


There will also be space for business partners to come in and work alongside students.

Current partners for the WMG Academy Solihull includeJaguar Land Rover, National Grid, Controls & Data Systems, ARUP, WMG and The University of Warwick.

The Academy also works closely with the EEF (the Manufacturers’ Organisation) and WMMC (West Midlands Manufacturing Consortium) and Solihull MBC.

Kate Tague, current Principal of the WMG Academy in Coventry, will take up a new role as Executive Principal – overseeing both the Solihull and Coventry WMG Academies.

Stewart Tait, Director of Pastoral and Additional Educational Needs in Coventry, will take on the role of Associate Principal Designate of the new Solihull-based Academy.

Mrs Tague said: “We are absolutely thrilled to hear that planning application has been approved and are now very eager to break ground and start building the new Academy.

“We’ve had an amazing few years developing, building and launching the WMG Academy Coventry and are looking forward to offering similar provision to students in Solihull and Birmingham.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the WMG Academy Solihull can visit the WMG Academy Coventry on June 20 for a Taster Event.

Visit the website at www.wmgacademysolihull.org.uk to find out more.

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