An academy chain that runs a string of schools in Bradford is to set up another free school - this time on the other side of the Pennines.

The Secretary of State for Education has decided that Dixons’ application to establish a free school in Manchester should proceed to the ‘pre-opening’ phase. This is a significant step towards opening the school.

Sir Nick Weller, CEO, Dixons Academies, said: “We are delighted that our free school in Manchester will proceed to the pre-opening phase. We already run six highly successful free schools, achieving some of the best results in the country. We now want to bring the same success to Manchester.

“We have a particular strength in the education of disadvantaged students and it is the gap in attainment between disadvantaged and other students which is currently compounding deprivation in Manchester and more widely in the north-west.”

Luke Sparkes, Executive Director, Dixons Academies, said: “We are a values driven organisation, and our academies are communities with a strong sense of moral purpose. Staff and students work hard, behave with integrity, and are positive team players. Our strong shared culture and knowledge rich curriculum transform the life chances of our students.

“Over the next five years, we plan to establish hubs in Liverpool and Manchester, and this free school is a key milestone. Anyone unfamiliar with our schools can find out more by subscribing to our YouTube channel, Dixons OpenSource.”