Exciting Times for Staff and Students at Bedford Academy, as New Build Takes Shape

On Wednesday I took part in the 'topping out' ceremony for the new main school building at Bedford Academy. The academy was formerly John Bunyan Upper School, where I was Chair of Governors, and I spoke at the ceremony about how important the new facilities are not only for the staff and students, but also for the local community.

Current and future children in the communities served by Bedford Academy deserve the best, and the new building and the facilities it will offer will open up a range of new opportunities for them. It's a £25 million investment in the school. Students I spoke to told me how much they are looking forward to coming to brand new, high quality facilities at school every day.

We were given a tour of the building as it currently stands, and tremendous progress has been made. You can really get a sense of how the building will work. It will feature a central communal 'hub' and what they're calling 'learning villages,' which form four individual spokes.

An atrium at the centre of the hub will flood the building with natural light, and should be quite spectacular once completed.

Any good school serves not just its students, of course, but also the local community. The new development is a tremendous asset for this community, and with the commitment of the school and its partners, it will deliver benefits over many years. Like the students and staff, I look forward to seeing the completed building and its new facilities when it is completed and ready to open.