Firstly, this is a reminder that Year 7 and Year 11 start back on Wednesday 3rd September, whilst Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 start back on Thursday 4th September. All year groups will need to arrive at school at 8.20am ready for an 8.30am start. 

Following the departure of the Principal, Mr Glover, there have been some changes to the Senior Leadership Team. 

• Mr P Quirk: Executive Headteacher (Co-op Academy Manchester and Co-op Academy Failsworth)
• Mrs J Nesfield: Vice Principal (Quality of Education)
• Miss K Quinn: Vice Principal (Behaviour & Culture)
• Mrs T Samuel: Vice Principal (Attendance & Personal Development) 

The team are highly experienced and have a real ambition to drive school improvement at Co-op Academy Manchester. We will work with the Trust around Christmas time to start the process of recruiting a new Principal for the Academy, and we will update you in due course.

 

New Tutor Groups

IMPORTANT:

Many students will have a new tutor group from September. Please check the Arbor App from Monday 1st September and let your child know which room and member of staff they will be with during tutor time so they know where they are going on the first day back. Please see /parent-app for more information about using the Arbor App.

The following images show which gates and entrances students should use from September 2025.

 

Standards

Towards the end of last year, we communicated to parents and students that our uniform policy was changing to follow a Central Trust directive. This means that any students that choose to wear a skirt must wear tights of at least 40 deniers with their skirt. We will work with students to correct any uniform issues prior to entering the building.

All students are also expected to bring a bag and a pencil case to school with them every day. The bag should be able to hold an A4 folder and a pencil case. These are now compulsory items that students must have with them every day, as part of our ‘GREAT Habits’ drive. To support families, we will be providing all students with a fully stocked pencil case at the start of the year. Students are also welcome to bring their own pencil case if they wish.

From Monday 8th September, if students arrive at school without a bag, pencil case or a piece of their uniform, they will be issued with a same-day 45-minute habits detention after school. We appreciate your support in ensuring students are organised and prepared for school each morning.

 

Lates and Attendance

Being punctual is a really important life skill that we instil in students to prepare them for life beyond school. We declare all lates and attendance information to colleges and apprenticeship schemes. With this in mind, we have made some changes to our systems and policies. 

Late to school in the morning:

If a student is late to school after 8.30am, they will attend a 25-minute lunchtime detention on the same day that they arrived late. This still leaves adequate time to access lunch and the toilets after the detention, before the start of Period 5.

If the student chooses not to attend their detention at lunchtime, they will be required to attend a 45-minute detention after school on the same day. Failure to complete a same-day detention will result in a 90-minute detention after school on a Thursday. Failure to attend this 90-minute detention may result in suspension.

You will receive a text home if your child arrives late to school and is required to complete a lunchtime detention.  

Late to lesson:

In addition, students will now have 5 minutes to move from one lesson to the next. There will be a late bell to mark the end of the 5-minute transition. If students arrive after the 5-minute bell they will be issued with a 45-minute same-day detention. If they are late to period 5, then the detention will take place the next day so that we have time to inform parents and carers. 

If a student chooses not to attend their same-day detention, it will result in a 90-minute detention after school on a Thursday. Failure to attend this may result in suspension.

 

Homework

At Co-op Academy Manchester, we recognise the importance of regular independent study in building a rich knowledge base to underpin learning in lessons.

We expect every student, every day, to complete:

1. 10 minutes of revision and rehearsal using their Knowledge Expert Sheets

2. 10 minutes of careful reading using the online platform Sparx Reader

3. 10 minutes of maths practice using the online platform Sparx Maths.

10:10:10 focusses on three areas which we believe will give our students the best chance to unlock their potential.

Great effort on Sparx Reader and Sparx Maths will be checked and rewarded by your child’s Form Tutor. 

Knowledge Expert Sheets must be brought to school every day and all lessons will begin with a low-stakes, high-profile quiz on this information, so revising at home daily is key to success.

 

Reading

We are proud to be a Reading School, where reading is prioritised and protected within the school curriculum. This academic year, all Key Stage 3 students will be following a structured programme of Guided Reading four times every week during form time to boost reading fluency. Books have been carefully selected to support and enhance our universal offer in lessons, and we are excited to start our days reading together. 

Additionally, every student at Co-op Academy Manchester will be tested twice annually on their reading skills, with intervention sessions offered to students in all year groups where appropriate. We will write to you about your child’s reading age following each round of testing and look forward to discussing this with you at our Progress Evenings in school.

One of the most effective ways you can support your child’s reading journey is by encouraging reading for pleasure at home. Talking about, sharing and looking at books together with a parent or guardian is key to encouraging a lifelong love of reading and learning. Students can also access and borrow a range of suitable books, magazines and academic reading material from our school library - open at break, lunch and after school every day. 

 

Classroom management and supporting behaviour:

Attached below is the new in-classroom behaviour system. This is a lights system which ensures we do not tolerate low-level disruption in classrooms, so teaching and learning are protected. All students start on green and are given up to 3 warnings: 

• A yellow warning - nothing is logged on Arbor and there is no sanction. This is simply to encourage students to correct their behaviour. 

• An amber warning - the student is encouraged and supported to improve their behaviour for a second time. This is logged on Arbor at the teacher's earliest convenience, but there is still no sanction.

• A red removal - At this point, the student has been asked three times to correct their behaviour and is causing significant disruption to their own and others' learning. They are removed from the lesson and work from the reflection room for the rest of the day.  

In addition, students can be given a straight Red removal for more serious behaviours. These behaviours can be found in the behaviour policy on the school website. Again, students will be removed from their lessons for the rest of the day for Red behaviours. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Please discuss this information with your child(ren) to ensure that they know about the academy expectations.

We look forward to welcoming our new Year 7 and seeing everyone else again in September.

Co-op Academy Manchester