Stockport Academy celebrates official opening of new building
12 January 2011
Today, students and staff at Stockport Academy celebrated the official opening of the new building. To mark the academy’s connection with Cambridge University, the £27 million building was opened by Professor Martin Daunton, Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
Professor Daunton was joined by former Stockport Academy Head Girl, Holly Murray. Last year, Holly became the first student in the history of the academy to gain a place at Cambridge University where she is currently reading Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall.
During the opening, Interim Principal Ben Dunne took guests on a tour of the new building’s state-of-the-art facilities, where they met students and staff. The guests were then treated to a rhythmic gymnastics display by Natasha Izzard and musical performances by Abigail Livingstone (piano), Lucas Maybury (flute) and Callum Mann (clarinet).
Guests also met students in the academy’s dedicated Sixth Form centre. The academy is the only non-fee paying school in Stockport to provide post-16 education.
Ben Dunne said: “We would like to thank everyone involved with the academy for their continued support as we work towards our goal of becoming an ‘outstanding’ school. Today is a perfect illustration of how everyone at the academy is working to bring out the best in all of our students.
“As well as celebrating our first successful Oxbridge applicant, this summer we also saw a number of students begin higher education courses at universities across the country. This has inspired our students to set ambitious goals for themselves. We very much look forward to sending future students onto higher education and successful careers.”
Sir Ewan Harper, Chief Executive of the United Learning Trust, said: “We are delighted that Professor Daunton has been able to join us to celebrate this special occasion. The academy’s growing connection with Cambridge University is playing an important role in raising the aspirations of our students and giving them the support they need to access higher education.”
The official opening was the ideal start to the new year for the academy, which continues to build on its academic achievements of 2010, when it recorded its best ever GCSE results with 51% of students achieving five or more A*-C grades, including English and maths.
