This had a huge impact on student learning by enhancing the curriculum, with additional provision in Plant Hill Arts College, became the Co-operative Academy of Manchester as part of an overhaul of education in the city.

New facilities on the Plant Hill Road site will be made available to the public for sports and adult education outside school hours.

Council education bosses looked urgently at finding alternative tuition for the schoolboy 15, who had been sat at home for five months, despite insisting he wants to return to school.

The LEA had ordered Plant Hill Arts College to admit the schoolboy after he was refused entry, but the school appealed to the Secretary of State Alan Johnson, who decided against forcing them to comply.

The child's mother commented that Plant Hill High had not taken tough action, even though the attack was a series of bullying incidents she had reported to the school.