IT is the home stretch for the Future Tech Studio School as the final plans are put in place in preparation for its opening in September.

With only months until the FTSS on Winwick Road welcomes its first set of students, principal designate Lee Barber has announced the first appointments to the team.

Joe Varey, who has previously worked at Oasis Academy Oldham, was announced as the assistant principal in teaching and learning while James Backhouse, who was the director of science at Swinton High School, was appointed as assistant principal in progress and standards.

Jenna Collins, who previously worked at Riverside College, will step up to the role as Future Tech Studio employer engagement manager.

Mr Varey said: “I believe this is a new forward thinking concept in education. Working at Future Tech Studio with its new innovative approach to learning, which includes teaching through enterprise projects and in collaboration with employers, will allow us to develop the skills and knowledge that they require to succeed in employment.”

The FTSS aims to provide a new choice for students, aged 14 to 19, by specialising in qualifications leading to careers in the IT and telecommunications, business and finance and engineering.

The school is designed to better prepare pupils for the working world and will be run like a business, with pupils working and studying from 9am to 5pm.

An activity day was held last month to showcase the range of subjects on offer at the school.

IT students were able to spend the day working on developing games using Scratch software while engineering students took part in a 3D design workshop with Hobs Reprographics.

Students also had the chance to check out the location of the new school, which is currently being built.

Mr Varey said: “As each group of students came back from the construction site they were full of excitement and enthusiasm about what they had seen - especially those who had the opportunity to get really close to the action on the site.”

Despite the school not opening until September, it has already had its first parent association meeting, which enables parents to have their say on the future of the school, which is the first of its kind in Warrington.

Visit futuretech.warrington.ac.uk.