We’re delighted to announce that Redbrick Academy has signed a formal partnership with Scholars School System, the higher education provider whose Manchester campus sits in the heart of the city at Linley House, Dickinson Street.

The agreement, signed at a ceremony at Scholars’ Manchester campus, makes Redbrick the childcare partner for Scholars students across Greater Manchester — and creates placement and career pathways for Scholars students into our settings in Longsight, Old Trafford and Oldham.

At its heart, this partnership is about one simple idea: childcare should never be the reason a parent can’t finish their degree.

Removing the barrier between parents and their degree

Many of Scholars’ students are mature learners returning to education — and a great number of them are parents. Anyone who has tried to balance lectures, assignments and the school run knows how quickly childcare becomes the thing that decides whether study is possible at all.

Through this partnership, Scholars students in Greater Manchester now have a dedicated childcare partner. Redbrick’s settings in Longsight, Old Trafford and Oldham offer school pick-ups, hot food, homework support, after-school care and full holiday club cover for children aged 5–15 — the practical wraparound that turns study time into protected time.

And because Redbrick is Ofsted-registered, eligible students can access government support with childcare costs — including the Childcare Grant through Student Finance and the childcare element of Universal Credit. Many student-parents simply don’t know this support exists; our team will be at Scholars’ campus events to explain it in person, and we’re always a WhatsApp message away.

Real experience for the next generation of professionals

The partnership works in both directions. Scholars students on Health & Social Care and Business Management courses will be able to undertake structured placements at Redbrick — gaining real, hands-on experience in a busy Ofsted-registered childcare and education setting, with hours that count towards their course.

Beyond placements, the partnership opens career conversations too: Redbrick is a growing organisation across Greater Manchester, and we’re always looking for talented people who care about children’s education and development. For some Scholars students, a placement with us may be the first step into a career.

Our team will also be joining Scholars for careers talks and campus events across the academic year.

From the partners

Numaan Mahmood, Co-Founder & Director, Redbrick Academy:

“Redbrick’s vision has always been to bridge the gap between aspirations and attainment — and that gap isn’t only a child’s. This partnership lets us stand behind Scholars students twice over: as future professionals, through structured placements and career pathways in our settings; and as parents, with childcare and learning support their children can thrive in while they study — because when a parent returns to education, the whole family’s future moves with them. Empowering children, supporting families, building futures — that has always been our promise, and in Scholars School System we have found a partner whose values mirror our own.”

Dr Robert Hyland, Associate Dean, Student Success, Placements and Alumni, Scholars School System:

“I am delighted to announce this partnership with Redbrick Academy. Redbrick is doing great work across Greater Manchester, and their values are very much aligned with our own. Their emphasis on community, outreach and supporting the next generation of scholars, lies very close to our own mission of ‘Education for All’. And of course, a significant number of our students are parents balancing study with family life, and this partnership puts practical support with a preferred partner, in their reach. This partnership rewards both parties, from reliable childcare, to placements that build real experience. We are delighted to be working together.”

What happens next

You’ll see Redbrick at Scholars’ Manchester campus at events through the year — and Scholars students can find everything about the partnership at redbrickacademy.co.uk/scholars.

If you’re a Scholars student and a parent, we’d love to hear from you: message us on WhatsApp, call, or visit any of our settings in Longsight, Old Trafford or Oldham. Five minutes with our team could change what this academic year looks like for your family.