Plans for a new specialist high school with links to MediaCityUK have been approved as part of Salford council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Planners gave the go ahead for the design proposals for a new building at Salford Quays which will replace the current Oasis Academy building on Prestwood Road.

Outline plans to rebuild St Patrick's RC High School for 900 pupils at its existing Eccles site have also been passed by the council's planning panel.

When the new Oasis Academy MediaCity opens in September 2012 it will be a centre for media, technology, business and enterprise. Built on the doorstep of MediaCityUK, the academy will have close links to its facilities and the BBC which is relocating five of its major departments there next year.


It will have places for 900 pupils with a 250 place post-16 provision.

Inside there will be modern teaching spaces, a large atrium, dance and drama studios, radio and TV studios, and a sports and performance hall. As well as a school, the new building will be a community asset which local organisations can use for sporting, leisure and learning activities.

Meanwhile, the St Patrick's rebuild at Guilford Road is to be the same size as the current school with a provision for 11 to 16-year-olds. Work is to start on site from autumn 2012.

Elsewhere in the city, the council's vision to transform high schools continued as outline planning applications were submitted for a new St Ambrose Barlow RC building and a new Swinton and Moorside campus.

Plans for St Ambrose Barlow show a new 750-place high school for 11 to 16-year-olds at Wardley with a 250-place sixth form college.

The current Swinton and Moorside is set to close to make way for a new campus to include accommodation for an expanded Moorside Primary School.

Councillor John Merry, leader of Salford City Council said: "We're committed to seeing our high school plans continue and we will push forward with as much of these as we can bearing in mind the budget pressures nationally.

"The new Oasis Academy MediaCityUK is an exciting educational and community asset and pupils will benefit from its location and close links to the BBC."

(CD)