In 2016 Prince Albert Community Trust submitted an application to the Department for Education for a brand new 11-18 secondary free school.
This was to help address the growing need for secondary school places in Birmingham and also to offer a 3-18 education pathway for our existing primary pupils. The application was approved by the DFE in 2017 and so the PA High journey began.
Originally due to open in September 2019 there has been extensive consideration about the location of the site over recent years. However we are now delighted to announce that the proposed location for PA High is off Holford Drive, Perry Barr near to the site that will be used for the Athletes’ Village during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Perry Barr will play an important role in facilitating the games, with the development of a new Athletes’ Village on the former Birmingham City University ‘City North Campus’ and redevelopment of Alexander Stadium. Perry Barr will see significant investment and growth supported by a range of transport and infrastructure improvements. PA High will sit at the heart of these re developments providing a real legacy for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Sajid Gulzar, Chief Executive of PACT said: “We are delighted to announce the location of PA High and we are hugely excited at the prospect of working with Birmingham’s children and families throughout their secondary education.”
PACT are working closely with Birmingham City Council and the DFE to achieve an opening date of September 2021 for a Year 7 cohort. The school intake will then grow organically until it reaches its capacity of 1260 students, which will include a sixth form.
PA High has gained extensive support from a number of partners across the city including The King Edwards Foundation, Shireland Collegiate Academy and the Holford Drive Community Sports Hub (HDCSH). Our collaborative work will ensure that PA High provides a high quality and fully rounded secondary education.
Heath Monk, Chief Executive of the King Edwards foundation which runs a number of grammar schools in the city, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the foundation to work alongside the PACT to further realise our mission of raising aspirations to transform the lives of young people from all backgrounds.”
Lincoln Moses MBE, Chief Executive of HDCSH, said: “The PACT is an effective and supportive stakeholder of the Holford Drive Community Sports Hub. The new PA High adventure will play a significant role in helping HDCSH to an even higher level of local engagement which will change the DNA of the local community.”
We are very clear about our aims for PA High, for it to be amongst the best schools in the country with the highest of aspirations and expectations for the pupils.