First cut: building work starts on E-ACT’s latest new academy

Secretary of State for schools Ed Balls has cut the first turf at E-ACT’s new £30m building which will replace the current school at Leeds West Academy.

The new building will offer state-of-the-art learning facilities to young people in West Leeds and be built on the existing school site.

E-ACT Director General Sir Bruce Liddington and Leeds West’s Principal Annette Hall joined Mr Balls for the official turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of the work which is expected to be finished by September 2011, when pupils return after the summer break.
The new building has been designed to meet sustainability and carbon emissions targets and will include facilities such as the latest technology in new ICT suites, professional-standard theatre and performance areas and brand new sports and fitness equipment which will help provide young people and their local community with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the 21st Century.

Leeds West Academy is the latest Leeds school to be rebuilt as part of the £250m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.

Sir Bruce Liddington, Director General of E-ACT, said: “We are developing exceptional new school buildings at all of our academies and we’re working with our partners to transform education and opportunities for young people. This new academy building in Leeds is an investment in their future and will provide excellent facilities for pupils and the community for years to come.”

Annette Hall, principal of the Leeds West Academy, said: “This isn’t just an investment in bricks and mortar, this is in the community and its young people. I believe that Leeds West Academy will be a place which will inspire local young people for generations to come.”

Cutting of the first turf: Ed Balls joins Leeds West Academy as work starts on the multi-million pound new building.