Projects: Shireland CBSO Academy

This scheme is complete!

Shireland CBSO Academy is a new 870-place, five-form entry plus Sixth Form secondary free school in West Bromwich. The project was delivered by the Department for Education and is operated by Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust in partnership with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Shireland CBSO Academy is for all students who have a passion or talent for music, serving Sandwell and the wider West Midlands, and will offer a full, broad and balanced curriculum.

The Academy will be the first state school in Britain to be established in collaboration with a world class orchestra and marks a radical new approach to music education, innovatively addressing the much-publicised decline in the position of the creative arts in many schools. Every child will be given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, with tuition delivered in partnership with Sandwell Music Service, and to participate in choirs and ensembles as well as regularly attending CBSO concerts at Symphony Hall.

The scheme has been designed in association with ADP Architecture and the construction works were completed by Galliford Try Building. The new school will comprise a five-storey building which has been converted from the BT offices at Providence Place, and a new two-storey sports hall located on the adjacent site. There will be elite facilities for music including a 300-seat performance hall with dress circle, drama studio which can double as a green room for performances, specialist music rooms and practice rooms, sports hall, activity studio and external multi-use games areas. Spaces have been designed to achieve the best teaching and learning environment possible and to support the achievement of musical excellence.

Visit www.shirelandcbso.org.uk to find out more.