Florence MacWilliams Academy was given planning approval by Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Planning Committee last month.

This decision now means the long-awaited new multi-million-pound school, located on part of the former Longton High School site in Meir, can now be built.

First detailed plans for the proposed "Florence MacWilliams Academy" were submitted in December 2019 by the prospective school leadership team, Educo Academies.

The new school and sixth form will provide places for over 1,000 children (Bowmer and Kirkland).

The new school has also been supported by the local MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, Jack Brereton, who publicly supported the bid from the House of Commons Chamber in January 2020.  

The new academy is set to have a capacity for 1,150 students aged between 11-19 years, offering Stoke-on-Trent families more choice in secondary education.

Jack Brereton, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, has been working with the Department for Education, the school, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to ensure the project's success since 2020.

Jack Brereton MP has been working with the DofE and the council on the project since 2020 (Jack Brereton).

Facilitating meetings both in Stoke-on-Trent and in Whitehall, London, Jack has been a driving force leading cross-organisational co-operation to ensure opening deadlines are met.

Jack also ensured that the main access did not come onto Broadway but was directly onto Weston Road following concerns of residents and to minimise the impact on the community. 

Jack Brereton MP has said: "I am very pleased to see this important decision to grant permission for the new school in Meir, this is vitally needed given the huge pressure on secondary places especially in communities like Meir, Meir Hay and Weston Coyney.

The plans received 140 objections from residents and two petitions against the application (Bowmer and Kirkland).

"I have repeatedly called for the new school to ease these huge pressures locally on secondary places and I have been working closely with the DfE and the school to ensure these plans progressed to allow a September 2024 opening.

"I recognise some in the community have raised concerns about the impact of the development but I do believe this is the right decision has been reached that balances impacts against need.

"Already more than 160 children have applied to start next September demonstrating the huge demand for additional good secondary places and there will be significant benefit the local community from the new facilities which the school will provide." 

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