School built on site of demolished Manchester landmark celebrates 'outstanding' Ofsted rating

A school that replaced a Manchester landmark has been given its first Ofsted grade - and has been told that it's 'outstanding'.

Co-op Academy Belle Vue opened in September 2021 and was temporarily based at Connell Co-op College, on Alan Turing Way in Manchester, before moving to a state-of-the-art building on the site of the old Showcase Cinemas last year.

The landmark 14-screen cinema, which opened on the site of the famous Belle Vue entertainment complex in October 1989, closed along with all other cinemas in the country when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020.

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They had already agreed to sell the land to Manchester City Council to build a new school for pupils aged 11 to 16.

After inspecting the school in March, Ofsted has rated it outstanding in all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and overall effectiveness.

The report commends the Hyde Road school, which is part of Co-op Academies Trust, for its ‘deep-rooted ambition for pupils to excel’ and how the ‘highly effective delivery of a well-considered curriculum means that pupils thrive academically’.

Ofsted said: “Pupils flourish at Academy Belle Vue. They are nurtured and cared for in a warm and positive climate. The strong behaviour systems and daily routines help pupils to settle into school well. Pupils feel safe and privileged to be part of such a welcoming community.”

The report acknowledges how ‘pupils’ absence rates are well below the national average’ and how ‘the school and the trust are uncompromising in their expectations of pupils’ behaviour’.

"Staff know pupils and their families exceedingly well," says the report. "This helps the school to identify and remove the barriers that prevent pupils from attending school each day."

The report also compliments how well the school has ‘managed its rapid expansion’, stating: “Developing and training staff has been at the forefront of the school’s work. This has proved to be a highly effective strategy. It means that staff are extremely well equipped to deliver the curriculum. This contributes considerably to the exceptional quality of education that pupils receive.”

Headteacher Scott Fletcher said: “The entire Belle Vue team is bursting with pride at the recognition of our hard work and dedication to providing the highest standard of education. I want to thank our dedicated staff, supportive families, and ambitious students for their collective effort in achieving this remarkable milestone.

“Our ambition is to ensure that every student leaves Belle Vue equipped with the best possible life chances and an exceptional set of grades to pursue their personal ambitions. This outstanding Ofsted report is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and our commitment to empowering students to unlock their potential in knowledge and character.”

CEO of Co-op Academies Trust, Dr Chris Tomlinson, said: “We're thrilled that Ofsted has acknowledged the outstanding community at Co-op Academy Belle Vue. Leaders have taken huge steps in implementing a fantastic learning community, where students can thrive and parents feel delighted in their child's experience. Congratulations to Scott, and the entire team at Belle Vue, who've contributed to making Belle Vue an excellent place to learn and grow.”