The Manchester Star Academies project includes two new Muslim faith, 800-place, three-storey megablock secondary schools and sixth form, one for boys and one for girls; Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy and Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy. The schools were delivered concurrently as one project on a 12-acre site.

The site arrangement was developed to create two distinct school sites accessed from a shared entrance on Rayburn Way and the schools were designed to operate independently of each other with self-contained parking, pick up and drop off, separate sports provision, separate kitchens and servicing. The orientation of the buildings was sensitively approached, offering a multipurpose hall for reflection and prayer orientated towards Qibla.

The ground floor supports specialist spaces such as Food Technology, Art and Business/ICT as well as SEN and Administration functions. The main multi-use space is also located on the ground floor, consisting of a large double-height hall with full height glazing. The first floor offers adaptable teaching class bases for Maths, English, Humanities and Languages. A large Learning Resource Centre is also located on this level offering opportunities for individual and group study. The second floor is home to the sixth form base including dedicated study and social area. Specialist subjects such as science are also located on this level.

The four-court sports hall is accessed directly from the building via a glazed link lobby which has the opportunity for a café style “grab and go” space. The Sports Zone includes the main sports hall, an activity studio/gym and changing facilities.