Published: 03/09/2010 14:46 - Updated: 03/09/2010 15:02

After three years of planning, Bedford Academy is opening In September the Bedford Academy opens its doors to a new intake of Year 9 students as well as the former students of John Bunyan Upper School.

The Academy is a state funded school which is independent of the Local Authority and provides a free education for pupils of all abilities.

 

The Academy will specialise in Science and Technology. The Academy is sponsored by The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) and Bedford College
who together bring a wealth of education experience, local knowledge, business contacts and commitment to the community.

A formal opening will take place next Friday and the guest of honour is Maggie Philbin. Maggie has had a long standing involvement in the field of
science and technology through the Tomorrow's World BBC TV programme, the New Engineering Foundation and TeenTech.

During the summer holidays all the students were issued with free uniforms to avoid unnecessary expense to families and to help create the brand new look for the school.
Claire Smith, Principal of the Academy commented, “Today, we are looking forward to welcoming all our students and by far our biggest year group will be the new Year 9. With an enormous number of first choices, we are excited that Bedford Academy has been so positively received by parents and families in our catchment area.
I am proud to be leading Bedford Academy and I have very much enjoyed meeting our students, parents and community at every opportunity. I hope to meet many more in the next few months and I look forward to sharing our aspirations and determination to make a real difference for our students’ future.”

Even though the Academy will temporarily operate out of the old John Bunyan School buildings, big changes have been made to the dining hall, toilets, reception areas, medical facilities and some classrooms.

Funding for the new Academy buildings looked in doubt when in early July over 100 Academies were told that their funding for new buildings had been “paused”. However, the Academy has now managed to secure the £24.8m funding it needed and plans are moving full steam ahead for the new facilities to be available in 2012.

David Russell, Chief Executive of the Bedford Charity, said, “I am delighted that this week we see the Bedford Academy welcome its first intake of students who, over the coming years, will benefit from enhanced facilities and the efforts of a dedicated and enthusiastic team of education professionals. This is an immensely significant milestone and we are all excited about the improved opportunities the Academy will offer to students in the local
area and we look forward to being part of the team who will ensure that the Academy grows from strength to strength over the coming years.”

Bedford College Principal and Chief Executive Ian Pryce said: “This is great news for Bedford and for those young people and parents in the catchment area of what will be a great place to learn.”