Didsbury’s new secondary school, Didsbury High School, opened its doors this week to more than 200 students.

The new school, at Didsbury Point in West Didsbury, has been built to help tackle the need for secondary school places in Manchester.

The school, part of the growing Laurus Trust, is initially taking 210 Year 7 pupils (11-12 year olds), with further intakes added each academic year.

The government-funded school will eventually also have a sixth form of 300 students.

Headteacher Dr David Woolley said the new school would follow the ‘unashamedly academic’ ethos of all Laurus Trust schools and help students to open the door to the future of their choice.”

He said: “We are very excited to bring a Laurus Trust education to the young people of Didsbury.

“We intend to provide an environment in which students can really flourish.

“Although we will be ‘unashamedly academic’, we realise that to produce truly rounded, capable young people, academic success alone is not enough.

“Our electives programme and extracurricular options aim to build on students’ strengths and interests.”