Building work is said to be now “well underway” on Manchester‘s first new primary school in the city centre in almost 20 years.
After plans were first agreed back in February 2020, and Manchester City Council announced back in October 2021 that the green light had finally been given for the institution after nearly two decades without one in the city centre, things are now said to be taking shape at the brand-new 210-place Crown Street Primary School – which is located just at the end of Deansgate.
With the first pupils expected through its doors September 2024, the Council says the school forms “an important part” of the wider regeneration of the Great Jackson Street area at the southern end of the city centre.
The school will open with a 26-place Pre-School class and a 30-place Reception class, before expanding in size as those students move through the school, until it has pupils in each year group from Pre-School to Year 6.
There will also be an on-site Day Care centre for children who are younger than three.
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📰 The first new primary school in the city centre in twenty years, Crown Street Primary School will be run by the Laurus Trust and built by @Renaker_
The first pupils expected through its doors in September 2024.
The school will be nestled between two neighbouring towers, The Blade and Elizabeth Tower, as part of the wider residential development of the area by Manchester-based property developers Renaker – which is set to be made up of 6,300 high-quality new homes.
There’ll also be city centre park with a children’s play area, a medical facility, and a dental studio, as well as a variety of independent restaurants, bars, and a cookery school.
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Manchester City Council has appointed the Laurus Trust to operate the new school.
The Council’s preferred operator, and also agreed by the Department for Education (DfE), the Laurus Trust is highly-regarded for the education it provides, and already operates Didsbury High School, as well as several others across the Greater Manchester region.
Artist impression image of where Crown Street Primary School will be located / Credit: Renaker
“As more people move into the city centre and make it their home it’s really important we make sure they have the infrastructure they need to let them live their lives, whatever stage they’re at,” explained Councillor Garry Bridges – Executive Member for Early Years, Children, and Young People at Manchester City Council – ahead of the new school opening.
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“Having a good local school on their doorstep is what every family wants.
“We’re determined to make sure this is something that is also available to our fast-growing city centre community.
“With the Laurus Trust on board Crown Street Primary looks set to be a brilliant school in the heart of our city that should serve generations of families and children in the city centre for years to come.”
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Manchester Museum to close much-loved section for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum has announced that it’s planning to close of its best-loved exhibitions.
Thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, Manchester Museum is planning a major redevelopment of its much-loved Vivarium.
The Vivarium has sat at the heart of Manchester Museum for more than 60 years, and is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species – many of which are critically endangered – in a bid to inspire generations of visitors.
Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, which is just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity, Manchester Museum houses the world’s only captive ‘back-up’ population – which is why the redevelopment of the Vivarium is so important.
The funding grant will help to ‘revitalise’ public displays, and create new state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium.
It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools, teaching, and visiting tour groups, which the Museum hopes will ‘further enhance’ the gallery’s potential for learning.
During the redevelopment – which has been named the ‘Habitats of Hope’ project – new permanent displays will also be created that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for.
Manchester Museum is set to close one of its much-loved sections for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment / Credit: Supplied
“Habitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world’s rarest amphibians are” commented Georgina Young, who is the Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Manchester Museum.
“Major investment means Manchester Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in Manchester to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th December 2022 
