Merchants' Academy is an independent academy

Academy (England)

In the education system of England, an academy is a school that is directly funded by central government and independent of control by local government in England. An academy may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind...

 in Withywood, Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

, England. The school is funded by Bristol City Council and sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers

Society of Merchant Venturers

The Society of Merchant Venturers is a private entrepreneurial and charitable organisation in the English city of Bristol, which dates back to the 13th century...

 and the University of Bristol

University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...

.

The sponsors provided an initial £2 million towards new school buildings and facilities, and continue to provide additional revenue support.

History

Merchants' Academy opened on 15 September 2008, replacing the former Withywood Community School. It is housed in a £30 million new build, which was erected on the site of the predecessor school.

The new build consists of seven separate buildings laid out around a central courtyard and the school was recently given the 2009 RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) regional award for architectural excellence.

About

The Academy specialism is enterprise and skills and the Academy has links with various business partners such as Burges Salmon and the Bank of Ireland, who help deliver work experience and enterprise programmes.

A sixth form opened with the new Academy in 2008 and currently offers the International Baccalaurate Diploma and a range of vocational qualifications, including: BTEC hairdressing, construction and catering and hospitality. Students have access to an on-site hairdressing and beauty salon, bricklayers yard and professional kitchen.

Community

Academy sponsors the Merchant Venturers also own the Merchants' Academy Sports Centre adjacent to the school site, which is open to the general public, providing outdoor sports pitches, gym facilities and sports hall hire.