First new school in Birmingham for 15 years opens

Perry Beeches II, the newest school in Birmingham for 15 years has opened today. The Education Secretary Michael Gove was there to welcome the new year 7s and post 16 students.

The Free School follows the success of the Perry Beeches Academy that in 2008 was named "The Most Improved School in the UK" after being deemed as failing a year before. It increased it's GCSE pass rate to 73% in 3 years.

Based in the Jewellery Quater of the city, it intends to accept children from the Ladywood, Lozells and Winson Green areas, ensuring that children from the local community are given the opportunity to attend.

In July 2012, Michael Gove described Perry Beeches as offering "word class" learning and teaching and its hoped that the standard can be carried through into the new inner city Free School.

The newly refurbished building, that used to be home to Severn Trent Water, now has a new multi-use gym area, indoor gymnasium and fitness suite, new ICT facilities and a top floor Science lab.

The first students, Year 7s and the first year of sixth formers are among 115 students that applied for 100 places at the school. More pupils could be offered a place in the following years.