Term starts at new £35 million academy in Gainsborough

STUDENTS from Trent Valley Academy (TVA) are starting the school year in a brand new, state-of-the-art academy building in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

 

The academy, sponsored by EACT, boasts a professional theatre and dance studio, an activity studio with a fully-equipped gym, and externally the extensive grounds include a new all-weather floodlit football pitch and tennis courts.

 

The four-storey, 15,000m2 academy will house 1200 students and includes more than 1800 IT data points and 165,000metres of cabling to manage the high-tech learning environment.

 

Academy Principal, Tom Megahy, said: “It’s a real privilege to take ownership of a fantastic building that’s purpose-built to help inspire students and provide the best facilities for their ongoing education. I’m grateful to everyone who has been involved in the design and development of the facility. I hope students, staff and the wider community will enjoy the benefits of its excellent facilities for many years to come.” 

 

EACT’s Director General, Sir Bruce Liddington, the former Schools Commissioner for England, said: “The new academy represents exactly what the academies programme and EACT is seeking to achieve. That means excellent facilities coupled with inspirational teaching and learning opportunities. I hope staff and pupils will enjoy this fabulous new building and take every opportunity to make the most of its facilities.”

 

TVA opens its doors on September 7 and students will also notice a change to their routine with new school hours. Formal lessons start at 8.30am and end at 2.40pm. However, there will be an extensive range of additional learning and extra-curricular activities and all students will be expected to take part.

 

Tom Megahy added: “We’ve worked our curriculum around this new timetable providing  a range of clubs and community activity, so most students will be involved in a range of learning-based activities from the end of the school day onwards.”

 

The academy is set to develop as an extended learning centre for the entire community, giving people in Gainsborough access to the facilities throughout the year.